Jack Gunston’s seven goals against North Melbourne have taken him to within one goal of joining John Peck in eighth place on the Hawthorn all-time goalkickers list.

Peck kicked 475 goals in his illustrious career from 1954 to 1966, including being the League’s leading goalkicker three times, in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Gunston now has 474 career goals for Hawthorn (plus 42 for other clubs), with his 35 goals so far this season already being his best for a full season since he kicked 51 goals in 2018.

Gunston is now also in the top 20 for most career games at Hawthorn, joining John Kennedy Jnr. in equal 19th on 241 games, edging Robert Dipierdomenico (240 games) out of the top 20.

Last Saturday’s performance by Gunston was the first time a Hawthorn player has kicked more than six goals in a game since Jarryd Roughead kicked seven, against Western Bulldogs, also in Launceston, in Round 3 2015. 

In addition, Mabior Chol’s five goals made it the first occasion when two Hawks had combined for 12 or more goals since Round 18 2013, when Lance Franklin (8) and Roughead (4) did so against Essendon at Docklands.

The most recent occasion when Hawthorn played St Kilda in Round 17 the game ended in a draw. 

The Round 17 2010 Docklands encounter produced margins of one at the first two changes, with scores level at three-quarter time and the end. Hawthorn led by 14 points in the last quarter, but a penalty for an interchange infringement proved costly. A goal to then-Saint, and future Hawk skipper, Ben McEvoy, took St Kilda to 14.3.87 drawing with the Hawks 13.9.87. Lance Franklin kicked five goals, and Luke Hodge got three Brownlow votes.

Hawthorn and St Kilda have met 164 times with the Hawks winning 84 and the Saints 78, plus two draws. The Hawks’ second longest winning sequence against any club was 20 versus St Kilda from 1979 to 1989. This week, Hawthorn will be endeavouring to win consecutive games against St Kilda for the first time since 2018.

Blake Hardwick has currently played 90 consecutive games, a streak which places him in the top 10 longest consecutive games streaks in Hawthorn’s VFL-AFL history. Meanwhile, sadly, Josh Weddle’s sequence of 57 consecutive games is coming to an end, leaving him with the fifth best sequence of consecutive Hawthorn VFL-AFL games from debut in club history.

Seamus Mitchell has now played the equal third highest number of Hawthorn games in the number 40, joining Billy Hartung on 27 games, and only behind Andy Collins (29) and Michael Osborne (39). All three of those players subsequently moved to lower numbers.

This Saturday, Hawthorn has the chance to secure its eighth unbeaten Docklands season, in the venue’s 26-season history. A win over the Saints would see 2025 join 2002, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2020 and 2024 as blemish-free Docklands years for the Hawks.

Hawthorn has played 97 games in Round 17 for 38 wins, one draw (in 2010) and 58 defeats. The Hawks had a bye in 2011 and there was no Round 17 in 1942 or 1943. The club’s record in the round was not helped by only winning twice in the 16 seasons from 1994 to 2009. The Hawks won five consecutive Round 17 games from 2012 to 2016, but have won only twice since, against Fremantle in 2019, and Adelaide in 2022.

However, despite the mediocre overall round record, Hawthorn has an outstanding Round 17 record in years ending in 5, winning eight of 10 games, with the only defeats being by narrow margins - six points to eventual Premier Melbourne in 1955 and by five to Footscray in 1995.

10 years ago, in Round 17 2015, Hawthorn thrashed Carlton at Docklands by 138 points - 27.11.173 to 4.11.35. Jack Gunston kicked six, while Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge led a dominant midfield.

20 years ago, in Round 17 2005, Hawthorn recorded the fourth win in Alastair Clarkson’s first season as coach, defeating Carlton by 24 points at the MCG – 19.13.127 to 15.13.103. Mark Williams kicked five goals, and Luke Hodge was best-on-ground.

40 years ago, in Round 17 1985, the Hawks thrashed Fitzroy by 72 points – 19.20.134 to 8.14.62. Robert Dipierdomico, Terry Wallace and Richard Loveridge headed the best.

50 years ago, in Round 17 1975, the Princes Park co-tenants, Hawthorn and Carlton played a superb top-of-the-ladder clash in front of over 31,000, with the Hawks prevailing by four points - 15.15.105 to 15.11.101. The hero was Brian Douge, the 19th man, who kicked the winning goal with his only kick of the game.

60 years ago, in Round 17 1965, Hawthorn kept alive its chances of avoiding the wooden spoon, defeating fellow struggler Footscray by 31 points at the Western Oval 11.6.72 to 4.17.41. John Peck maintained on track to top the League goalkicking with four goals, while Daryl Mares had the best game of his short Hawthorn career booting three majors. 

80 years ago, in Round 17 1945, the Hawks defeated Geelong at Glenferrie by 38 points – 14.21.105 to 9.13.67. Alec Albiston kicked four goals.

90 years ago, in Round 17 1935, Hawthorn recorded its only victory from 13 attempts at Geelong’s former Corio Oval home, prevailing by 28 points – 13.9.87 to 7.17.59. Jack Green kicked four goals and Ted Pool three, with Viv Randall and Tom Byrne among the best.

100 years ago, in Round 17 1925, Hawthorn completed its debut season as a League club with a 25-point win against North Melbourne. Hawthorn won 7.13.55 to 4.6.30 with Lew Gough contributing three goals. Unfortunately, this third win was not enough to avoid the first of 11 wooden spoons, finishing behind fellow new entrants Footscray (4 wins) and North (5 wins). 

Peter Hudson holds the record for the highest number of goals by a Hawthorn player against St Kilda, kicking 12 at Glenferrie in Round 15 1971 in a match which was a preview of the season’s Grand Final. Hudson has also kicked the most goals for Hawthorn in Round 17, a tally of 10 recorded against St Kilda at Waverley in 1977.