This week’s round marks 50 years since the debut of a legend.

50 years ago, in Round 8 1972, Michael Tuck made his Hawthorn debut and had an immediate impact, kicking goals with his first three kicks.

Tuck was 18 years, 331 days old on that May afternoon and when he made his final appearance in the 1991 Grand Final, he was 38 years and 96 days. In his 20 seasons at the top level, he played 426 games, 39 Finals, 11 Grand Finals and was a member of seven Premiership team – all VFL-AFL records at the time of his retirement.

Interestingly, after goaling with his first three kicks, Tuck did not kick another major until his 11^th game in Round 10 1973. After playing five games in his debut season, he made 11 appearances in 1973, and became a regular in 1974.

A crowd of 25,661 was at Waverley for Tuck’s debut, as top team Hawthorn took on fifth-placed Richmond. Despite Tuck’s efforts, Hawthorn lost his debut game, going down to the Tigers by seven points. Accurate goal-kicking saw the Hawks lead by 20 points at half-time (9.2 to 4.12), but they were then outscored 6.6 to 0.1 in the third term. Hawthorn came again in the last quarter, kicking four goals to one, but lost 13.6.84 to 11.25.91. Sharing the goal-kicking honours with Tuck was another iconic name, with Leigh Matthews also booting three goals.

Hawthorn has won five of its last six Docklands’ encounters with Essendon. Three of the five were by big margins – 94 points (2012), 56 points (2013) and 108 points (2016). In contrast, the other wins were thrillers.

In Round 2 2014, Cyril Rioli kicked the match-winning goal in the dying stages to secure a four-point victory. Hawthorn again recorded a thrilling win against Essendon at Docklands in Round 1 last season, coming from 40 points down to win by one point with Tim O’Brien booting the match-winner.

Essendon won the return encounter last season at University of Tasmania Stadium which took it to 100 wins in the head-to-head between the clubs, compared to 66 victories for the Hawks (the two clubs have never played a draw).

This Saturday night, Hawthorn will be trying to avoid losing four consecutive games at Docklands for just the second time since the venue opened in 2000. After defeating Essendon in Round 1 last season, the Hawks lost subsequent Docklands games to St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Adelaide. The only previous sequence of four or more defeats at Docklands was six consecutive games in 2005-06, games which were the first six coached by Alastair Clarkson at the venue.

Overall, at Docklands, the Hawks have played 84 games for 48 wins, 35 losses and one draw (in 2010). The club’s longest winning sequence at Docklands was 10 from 2011 to 2014, as part of an undefeated sequence of 12 (including a draw) from 2010 to 2014.

One of the more unusual locations in which Hawthorn has played a VFL-AFL game is the north-east Victorian town of Euroa.

70 years ago, in Round 8 1952, Hawthorn played in Euroa as part of the VFL’s ‘Propaganda Round’, which saw all six matches played outside Melbourne in both interstate and country locations. A crowd of 7,500 saw the 11^th placed Hawks take on fifth-placed Carlton. Hawthorn was competitive in the middle two quarters, but poor opening and final terms produced an 11.14.80 to 17.15.117 defeat. Jim Robison kicked three goals for the Hawks.

Jackson Callow will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of several other players who debuted in number 45 and went onto significant careers. Only one player, Richard Walter in 1978, has worn number 45 in a premiership team, but two other Premiership players – Cam McPherson (1961) and Clinton Young (2008) - have begun their careers wearing number 45.

The most recent number 45 to debut in the number and then move to another number was Conor Nash who, like Clinton Young, transitioned to number 11.

Hawthorn’s Round 8 ledger is currently squared having recorded 48 wins and 48 defeats (with a bye in 1992). The Hawks have won 10 of their last 15 matches in Round 8, with the oddity that four of the losses were against Sydney - in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020, the other being against West Coast last season. Hawthorn’s most recent Round 8 victory was against GWS at the MCG in 2019.

10 years ago, in Round 8 2012, Hawthorn thrashed Fremantle by 56 points in Launceston – 17.17.119 to 9.9.63. Jarryd Roughead kicked four goals and Clinton Young got the three Brownlow votes, for the only time in his career.

20 years ago, in Round 8 2002, Hawthorn recorded its fourth successive win, grounding out a nine-point victory against lowly Carlton at the MCG, after trailing by seven points at the final change. Angelo Lekkas had 30 disposals and Shane Crawford 28.

60 years ago, in Round 8 1962, Hawthorn defeated Essendon at Glenferrie by 17 points – 9.15.69 to 7.10.52. The match report in The Age was headlined ‘Essendon’s winning run bogs down in swamp’ and commented that Hawthorn ‘went in hard, and played direct, determined football’. It lauded the ‘quietly competent match-winner Morton Browne’ and the ‘inspiring never-say-die efforts of Garry Young’, and observed that ‘Dave Parkin became a star overnight with a brilliant exhibition’.

Jason Dunstall holds the club record individual goal-kicking record against Essendon with 12 in 1992. Other big bags against the Bombers were 11 by Leigh Matthews in 1973 and 10 by Michael Moncrieff in 1972.

Peter Hudson holds the Hawthorn record for most goals in Round 8, having kicked 13 goals against South Melbourne in 1970.