Born March 2,1966
Recruited Sandy Bay, Tasmania
Debut Order 712
Played 1987-1997
Games 211 Goals 94
Guernsey 41 (1987), 18 (1988-97)
Premierships 1988, 1989, 1991
Night Premierships 1991, 1992
Best First Year Player 1987
3^rd Club Champion 1988
Best Player in Finals 1989
Most Determined Player 1993
Most Courageous Player 1993
Best Clubman 1995
Life Member 1993
Awards Committee 2019-
Hall of Fame Inductee 2022
State of Origin Games 6    

 Darrin Pritchard quiet by nature but was very popular with the Hawk supporters and fellow teammates, a winger with great courage and breakaway pace. He was an underrated star in a team of champions and was named as Hawthorns’ Best Player in the epic 1989 Finals series. 

Taken at pick 26 in the 1986 VFL Draft, Pritchard, originally from Sandy Bay, made his debut in R8 1987 against Geelong. In 1988, after playing 18 games, he was dropped to the Reserves late in the season before regaining his spot and going on to play a telling game in the 1988 Grand Final’s 96-point demolition of Melbourne.

Over the 1989 summer, he worked on developing his pace and was rewarded for his effort by being named as All-Australian wingman. He wrote his name in the hearts of many a Hawk supporter when he moved onto the ball after John Platten was injured in the 1989 Grand Final.  Pritchard’s renowned coolness under pressure saw him play a vital role in the Hawks’ victory by six points in the nail-biting final minutes of that 1989 Grand Final against Geelong. 

Pritchard’s inspired game on Peter Matera (West Coast Eagles) in the 1991 Grand Final saw him again score highly in the votes for Best on Ground.  He helped to seal the victory with his second goal, giving him three premierships in four years.

After playing 211 games, Pritchard announced his retirement in R22, 1997 alongside his teammate, Johnny Platten. Many a Hawk fan will share the fond memory of watching Pritchard burst out of the centre, delivering the football with pin-point accuracy onto the chest of Jason Dunstall. 

Pritchard has willingly given his time for many of the Hawks Museum’s Annual Functions, also donating a significant collection of his personal football memorabilia to the Club.  He provided valued support to the two Club exhibitions telling ‘The Hawthorn Story’ at the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, Launceston in 2006 and 2014.

Always a strong advocate of the Club’s values, history, and traditions, Pritchard was invited to join Hawthorn’s Awards Committee in 2019.