AS HE gets comfortable in the considerable shoes left behind by his predecessor, Jeff Kennett, new Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold has admitted one of the first items on his agenda is the long-term viability of its home base at Waverley Park.

In an exclusive interview with AFL.com.au, Newbold said it was possible the club would outgrow its facility at Waverley and that a consultant was now on board assessing future options for the club.

His comments come in the same week that Hawthorn's home base was officially re-badged as the Ricoh Centre, thanks to a lucrative deal with the leading print supply company.

Newbold said that while the Ricoh Centre is "an outstanding facility" a key outcome for any new home for the club would be the ability to stage closed training sessions.

"[At present] we have to drive to a school or a secluded venue somewhere, so we want to have the option to close it off," he said.

"What we're trying to get done…is set the club up for the next 10 to 20 years."

The Hawks moved from their traditional home at Glenferrie Oval to Waverley Park in 2006, setting up base in what was formerly the Members Stand at the old VFL Park. In 2015, the club will assume outright ownership of the facility.

Newbold said the Hawks didn't want to stand by and watch while clubs such as Essendon and Collingwood ramped up their facilities.

"With free agency coming in, I think your facilities and your physical environment plays a big part in attracting talent. That's on our agenda to get done and we're doing the studies on that now," he said.

Newbold was elected as Hawthorn president last December for a three-year term and said that while the Hawks won't move anywhere in that time, he said the "footprint" to do so might be laid.

Newbold also said that the Hawks remained committed to Tasmania for the long-term, but said there were no plans to play any more than four home games a year at Aurora Stadium, which had been hinted at by his predecessor, Jeff Kennett.

He added that the Hawks welcomed plans by St Kilda to play games in New Zealand, but irrespective of the Saints plans, the club would continue to develop a talent pathway across the Tasman.

And he played down the massive expectations on the Hawks this year.

"We haven't beaten Geelong since the 2008 Grand Final and we haven't beaten Collingwood much lately either, so we have some work to do. Everyone is talking us up and saying we're the team to beat, but I don't see it," he said.

You can follow Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne

Toyota AFL Dream Team is the only fantasy football competition where you can follow the scores LIVE during the NAB Cup. Register your team and see how your players are shaping up before the start of the Toyota Premiership Season.