Hawthorn has come away with premiership points more often in Round 16 than in any other round. 

The Hawks’ Round 16 record to date is 51 wins, 45 losses and one draw from 97 games. The draw in 2017 is what puts Round 16’s record marginally ahead of Round 3 which has seen 51 wins but no draws, and Round 15 which has produced 50 wins and two draws.

Hawthorn won nine consecutive Round 16 matches from 1956 to 1964, a further eight from 1968 to 1975, and six more from 1989 to 1994.

There have been Round 16 victories for the Hawks in nine of the last 13 seasons, plus a draw with GWS in 2017. In Round 16 2019, Hawthorn defeated Collingwood by four points at the MCG, but in 2020 the Hawks lost to St Kilda at Metricon Stadium and last season to Port Adelaide at Docklands.

Hawthorn takes a good record against GWS, but a poor record at Giants Stadium into Sunday’s game in western Sydney.

The Hawks’ overall record in 11 games against the Giants is six wins, a draw (in this round five years ago) and four defeats. However, all four of the defeats have been at Giants Stadium, compared to an unbeaten record at the other venues (MCG, Launceston and Canberra) where the teams have met.

Compounding Hawthorn’s poor record at Giants Stadium, is that as well as the four losses to GWS, there were also defeats there by Collingwood and Melbourne in the Covid-ravaged 2020 season.

The Hawks’ losses in their first six games at Giants Stadium has created the club’s worst losing streak at a new venue in the modern era. A loss this Sunday will see Giants Stadium join Corio Oval and Junction Oval on seven defeats, but still behind Lake Oval and MCG (both 10), Princes Park and Punt Road (both 14) and Victoria Park (28). It has already surpassed the streaks of five defeats at Moorabbin from the first game there in 1965 and at Kardinia Park from 1941.

And the weekly reminder that the club is still poised on the brink of win number 1,000 in the VFL-AFL. Could it come this week at the unlikely venue of Giants Stadium?

James Blanck has become just the second player born on 20 November to play for Hawthorn.

Blanck was born in 2000, some 89 years after Jack Stenhouse in 1911. Stenhouse played just one game for Hawthorn against his former club Richmond at Punt Road in Round 5 1936, spending the day on the bench as 19^th man.

Blanck has also taken on what until recently was the burden of number 36, but hopefully Dylan Moore has permanently turned the number’s fortunes around. In three seasons (2019-21) Moore played 30 games in number 36, kicking 31 goals, and has continued his excellent form since graduating to number 13 this season.

Moore’s 30 games were the most appearances in number 36 since Gene Chiron played 33 games in it from 1969 to 1972, before shifting to number 9. Brian Falconer holds the record for number 36 with 57 games.

10 years ago, in Round 16 2012, Hawthorn thrashed the Western Bulldogs by 72 points at Docklands – 17.14.116 to 6.8.44. Jack Gunston kicked four goals and Sam Mitchell’s 34 disposal game earned him the three Brownlow votes.

20 years ago, in Round 16 2002, Hawthorn made it four wins in a row with a 26-point win against Melbourne at the MCG. The Hawks got on top with a 5.2 to 1.1 third quarter. Nick Holland was outstanding with 12 marks and three goals, while Adrian Cox and Daniel Chick also booted three, and Steven Greene was the leading possession getter with 31 disposals.

30 years ago, in Round 16 1992, sixth-placed Hawthorn scored an upset win against ladder-leader Geelong at Kardinia Park. Darrin Pritchard had 40 disposals, Ben Allan 31, and Anthony Condon 28, while Jason Dunstall kicked nine goals, including his 100th for the season.

40 years ago, in Round 16 1982, Hawthorn kicked a new VFL-AFL record first quarter score of 13.3, a record which stood until 2011. Hawthorn went on to win – 32.14.206 to 15.22.112. Leigh Matthews kicked seven goals, Gary Buckenara and Michael Byrne both booted five and John Kennedy four, while Michael Tuck and Terry Wallace both had 34 disposals.

50 years ago, in Round 16 1972, Hawthorn consolidated fourth position on the ladder with a 41-point victory over Footscray at the Western Oval. Peter Crimmins kicked four goals, while Bob Keddie, Peter Knights and Alan Martello all booted three.

60 years ago, in Round 16 1962 accurate goal-kicking helped Hawthorn to a 17-point win over Richmond at Punt Road – 15.4.94 to 11.11.77. The multiple goal-kickers were John Peck five, Graham Arthur four and Ian Law two.

70 years ago, in Round 16 1952, 11^th placed Hawthorn scored a major upset by beating fourth-placed South Melbourne at the Lakeside Oval – 9.14.68 to 6.14.50. Pat Cash kicked four goals. The win proved extremely costly for the Swans as they missed out on a place in the Final Four by just half a game, the closest they came to making the Finals in their long Finals’ drought between 1945 and 1970.

Peter Hudson, Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton share the Round 16 Hawthorn individual goal-kicking record with 11 goals. Hudson kicked 11 in 1970, equalled by Dunstall in 1989 and Brereton in 1990.

Jarryd Roughead holds the Hawks’ individual record against GWS kicking six in 2012 at the MCG.