Spotless Stadium will become the 30th venue at which Hawthorn has played a VFL-AFL game when the Hawks meet GWS in western Sydney on Saturday.
The Hawks will be looking to improve on a poor record in venue debuts, with the club having won just 5 of the 29 previous first games at venues.
Having lost at all 12 of the original grounds in debut appearances in 1925-26, the club also suffered defeats at its next six new venues (Kardinia Park 1941, Toorak Park 1942, Yarraville 1942, Euroa 1952, Moorabbin 1965 and Waverley 1970). Hawthorn finally won a venue debut game at the 19th attempt at the SCG in 1979 against North Melbourne. Since then, the Hawks also won first-up at Carrara, North Hobart, Docklands and York Park (now Aurora Stadium), but lost at the Gabba, Subiaco, WACA Ground, Football Park, Stadium Australia and Adelaide Oval.
Big margins have also often been associated with these games with the Hawks winning by 157 points (North Hobart), 95 (Carrara), 59 (Docklands) and 51 (SCG), but losing by 143 points at the MCG in 1926 and 86 points at Football Park in 1991.
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As well as needing to overcome the historical challenge of winning at a new venue, this Saturday
Hawthorn will also be dealing with a hoodoo in games played on 9 May.
The Hawks have played 13 previous matches on 9 May recording just 2 wins, both against Footscray, in 1936 and 1959. Since the most recent 9 May win, the Hawks have lost 7 consecutive 9 May games, including as recently as last season when they went down to Sydney at Stadium Australia in a Friday night game.
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There are actually two games which feature on both the new venue and 9 May lists, games which took place 90 and 45 years ago.
90 years ago, in Round 2 1925 played on 9 May, the Junction Oval became the second venue at which Hawthorn played a League game. Hawthorn lost the game against St Kilda by 54 points, but actually won the second half having trailed by 10 goals at half-time. Les Woodford, who had kicked 2 goals in Round 1, kicked a further 3 against the Saints.
45 years ago, in Round 6 1970 also on 9 May, VFL Park Waverley became the 18th venue at which Hawthorn played. A crowd of 26,068 saw the Hawks lose a high-scoring game to reigning Premiers Richmond by 7 points – 21.11.137 to 20.10.130. Peter Hudson kicked 8 goals for Hawthorn, but the real star for the team was Peter Crimmins who had 27 kicks and booted 5 goals.
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The fact that this is Hawthorn’s first game at Spotless Stadium highlights the fact that in each of the previous three seasons Hawthorn has been drawn at home to the GWS Giants – at the MCG in 2012 and 2014, and at Aurora Stadium in 2013. Hawthorn has won all three, but the margins have been getting narrower from 162 points in 2012, to 83 points in 2013 and down to 7 points last season.
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Hawthorn has won 6 of its last 7 games played in Round 6, the only blemish being a heavy loss to Essendon in 2010. After a bye in 2011, the Hawks have beaten St Kilda, Adelaide and Richmond in the last three seasons. Last season the stars were Sam Mitchell (36 disposals) and Luke Hodge (30), while Cyril Rioli kicked 4 brilliant goals.
Overall in Round 6, Hawthorn has recorded 39 wins and 47 defeats in 86 matches (with byes in 1942, 1943, 1994 and 2011). Hawthorn recorded solid Round 6 wins both 30 and 50 years ago, with club icons among the goals in both games.
In Round 6 1985, the Hawks travelled to Fitzroy’s latest home ground at Victoria Park and won 19.16.130 to 15.12.102. The leading goalkickers for the Hawks were the 33 year old pair of Leigh Matthews and Peter Knights who both contributed 4 majors. Others to make a significant contribution to the win were Russell Greene (30 disposals) and Peter Russo (27).
In Round 6 1965, Hawthorn was at home to Footscray and set up a win with a 5.2 to 0.3 opening term. From there, the Bulldogs gradually reduced the margin to the final one of just 7 points. The Hawks won 12.9.81 to 10.14.74, with John Peck kicking 4 goals and Graham Arthur 3.
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Jason Dunstall holds the Hawthorn record for Round 6 kicking 9 goals in both 1992 and 1993 (against Collingwood and Adelaide respectively), a tally equaled by Lance Franklin (against Essendon in 2007). As mentioned above, Peter Hudson booted 8 in Round 6 1970, in the club’s first ever Waverley game. Jarryd Roughead holds the record against GWS kicking 6 in the 2012 MCG encounter.
