This round marks the 50^th anniversary of when Leigh Matthews played what was probably the best game of his illustrious career, and perhaps the best individual performance in Hawthorn history.

Matthews kicked 11 goals against Essendon at Waverley in Round 3 1973, which was a remarkable effort but, what made it more amazing, was that he spent a fair amount of the game on-the-ball, accumulating 41 disposals (38 kicks and three handballs)!

Hawthorn had gone into the match in desperate need of a win, having lost its opening two matches to teams which had not made the previous season’s Finals. After leading by nine points at half-time, Hawthorn surged away to win by 68 points, in the process kicking a new club record score of 27.8.170.

Matthews’ 11 goals in 1973 is the club Round 3 record. It was almost equalled twice in the next three seasons as Michael Moncrieff showed a particular liking for Round 3, kicking 10 in both 1974 versus South Melbourne and 1976 versus Collingwood.

Both Matthews and Moncrieff sustained their fondness for Round 3 well into the 1980s, as both booted six goals in Hawthorn’s 129-point demolition of St Kilda at Moorabbin in Round 3 1983 – 26.15.171 to 6.6.42. Moncrieff’s goals included the 600^th of his career, the third Hawk to reach the mark following Peter Hudson and Matthews. Besides Matthews, Moncrieff, other good players included Dermott Brereton, Richard Loveridge, Chris Mew, Gary Buckenara, Rodney Eade and Terry Wallace.

Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne will see a return to the situation where every Hawthorn premiership coach has subsequently coached against the Hawks.

The obvious precedent for Saturday’s game is when Hawthorn first played against a John Kennedy Snr. coached North Melbourne team in Round 11 1985, a game which resulted in a draw. Hawthorn won the remaining eight games against a Kennedy-coached North.

Of the other Hawk Premiership coaches David Parkin led Carlton to a win against Hawthorn in 1981, whereas Allan Jeans at Richmond in 1992 and Alan Joyce at Footscray in 1994 both suffered heavy defeats in their first games against their former club.

Round 3 has historically been one of Hawthorn’s best rounds, with 51 victories and 47 losses from 98 matches. The Hawks had a remarkable Round 3 record between 1971 and 1992, winning 19 and losing just three. Hawthorn won six Round 3 games in a row from 2011 to 2016, and won again in 2019 and 2020, before suffering narrow defeats against Geelong in 2021 and Carlton last season.

10 years ago, in Round 3 2013, Hawthorn thrashed Collingwood by 55 points, after trailing by 22 points during the second term. The game is best remembered for a passage of play in the third quarter which saw a Brent Guerra long kick-out, a mark by Ben Stratton in the centre square, a handpass to Lance Franklin who, after hurdling fallen players, launched a massive goal which went through the goals at the Punt Road end.

A crowd of 72,254 at the MCG saw Hawthorn 22.13.145 defeat Collingwood 13.12.90 with Franklin kicking four goals, plus Luke Breust, Shaun Burgoyne and Jarryd Roughead all contributing three. Luke Hodge got the three Brownlow votes for a 31-disposal game. A couple of firsts were that Hawthorn wearing its new alternate jumper with a predominantly brown back and gold number, and Taylor Duryea making his debut.

60 years ago, in Round 3 1963, Hawthorn defeated Collingwood at Victoria Park by 36 points – 13.22.100 to 8.16.64, just the club’s second win at the venue compared to 29 defeats. The Hawks badly needed the win after a 0-2 start to the season. John Peck kicked five goals and Ian Law and Ron Nalder both booted three, with Law a clear BOG.

1963 is one of two seasons when Hawthorn has lost the opening two games and made the Grand Final, the other being 1985. Hawthorn also made a Preliminary Final in 1977 after starting the season with two defeats.

Since its last wooden spoon in 1965, Hawthorn has begun 10 seasons with a 0-2 record. In six of the 10 the Hawks won in Round 3 (most recently in 2009), compared to four seasons when they lost (most recently in 2017). Three of those previous ten 0-2 starts saw the Hawks last on the ladder after two rounds, in 1979, 1998 and 2005.

Last season’s wins in Rounds 1 and 19 took Hawthorn to 100 wins against North Melbourne, the first century against any opponent, with 78 defeats and two draws. Hawthorn’s best winning sequence against North Melbourne was 14 from 1985 to 1993. The Hawks have played North Melbourne on eight previous occasions at University of Tasmania Stadium, most recently in 2021, with Hawthorn holding a 5-3 advantage.

Last season’s 2-2 record at University of Tasmania Stadium kept intact the Hawks’ amazing record at the ground. Hawthorn’s last losing season in Launceston was 2005. Since then, there have been 12 winning seasons for the Hawks, and four drawn ones (in 2007, 2009, 2021 and 2022). There were no games in Launceston in 2020. Hawthorn’s overall record in 74 games at University of Tasmania Stadium is 54 wins, a draw and just 19 defeats.

April Fools’ Day has not recently been a day of laughs for the Hawks, who have not won on 1 April since 1995, suffering defeats in 2000, 2002, 2013 and 2017.

Lance Franklin’s 13 goals in 2012 set a new club record against North Melbourne, breaking the previous high of 10 kicked jointly by Alec Albiston (1940) and Jason Dunstall (1988).