Hawthorn has won 12 of its last 15 games against Adelaide.

These wins include several thrillers. There was the five-point win in the 2012 Preliminary Final; the Paul Puopolo inspired three-point win in 2016; and then two years ago, in Round 6 2021, the Hawks came from behind to record a three-point win at University of Tasmania Stadium. Jacob Koschitzke kicked five goals and secured the three Brownlow votes.

That 2021 game was one of five previous occasions when Hawthorn played Adelaide in Launceston, games which have resulted in four wins and just one defeat. In total, the Hawks and Crows have played 45 times, with Hawthorn holding a 25-21 advantage.

Luke Breust has moved to twelfth on the Hawthorn games played list. Breust has played 265 games, putting him one ahead of Peter Knights and Jordan Lewis who both played 264. Breust is on track to enter the top ten in a few weeks when he passes the current equal tenth pair of Gary Ayres and Jason Dunstall, who both played 269 games.

Breust is also just 11 goals away from reaching the 500 career-goal milestone. His two goals against GWS on Sunday took him to 489, which has him in seventh place on the all-time Hawthorn list.

Once Breust enters the top ten for games, he will be one of just three Hawks in the top ten for both games and goals, along with Leigh Matthews and Jarryd Roughead (disposing Dunstall who will no longer be in the top ten for games).

Seamus Mitchell has joined some illustrious predecessors who began their Hawthorn careers in number 40. In fact, the last seven Hawthorn Premierships have featured a player who began his career wearing number 40.

Andy Collins is the only player to wear number 40 in a Premiership, which he did in 1988 before going onto to win two more Flags in number 4. Two members of the 2008 Premiership team, Michael Osborne and Jordan Lewis also began their careers in number 40. Osborne wore number 11 in 2008, while Lewis played in four Flags in number 3. 1976 Premiership player Alan Goad also began his career in 1972 wearing number 40.

Mitchell’s selection, along with that of Fergus Greene, has seen a doubling in the number of players from Bendigo U18 to represent Hawthorn in the AFL. The previous two were Nathan Thompson and Rick Ladson.

In this Anzac Day round, we should remember the ten Hawthorn League players who lost their lives in the Second World War, or who died as a result of war wounds, or war-related illness – Jack Drake, Alf Giblett, Bruce Hone, Alex Nash, Richard Pirrie, Jack Price, Len Thomas, Max Wheeler, Leo ‘Gus’ Young and Harold Zucker, plus Seconds player, Douglas Curphey.

There were also several players who represented the club in its days in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association and VFA who lost their lives on active duty in the First World War. Their names include Hugh Callan, John Collins, William Field, Don McConville, Joseph Skene, Joe Slater and Joseph Sorby.

Overall in Round 6, Hawthorn has played 94 times (having had four byes) and won 42 and lost 52.

Both 10 years ago and 30 years ago, Hawthorn also played Adelaide in Round 6.

10 years ago, in Round 6 2013, the teams which had fought out a close Preliminary Final the previous season clashed at Football Park. The game was again close and once again the Hawks emerged victorious, winning – 13.11.89 to 11.12.78. Jack Gunston kicked three goals, while Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell both had 29 disposals.

30 years ago, in Round 6 1993, the Hawks travelled to Adelaide determined to keep intact a proud 12-year record of not losing three consecutive games. Playing in front of a packed crowd of 46,689, Hawthorn trailed at quarter time but a stunning 8.0 to 2.3 second quarter set up a 16.9.105 to 12.16.88 win. Jason Dunstall finished with nine goals, and others in the best were Darren Jarman, Ben Allan and Paul Cooper, while captain Gary Ayres produced a couple of pieces of his classic ‘good driving in heavy traffic’. Mark Graham made his debut but, in a sign of how much the game has changed, he sat on the two-man interchange bench all night, until finally being given a run when there were only two minutes left.

20 years ago in Round 6 2003, Hawthorn played its last ever game at Princes Park and marked the occasion by scoring a courageous 11-point win against Carlton – 11.8.74 to 9.9.63. Joel Smith kicked the sealing goal, Jade Rawlings was outstanding, and Rick Ladson made his debut. Hawthorn played 230 games at Princes Park from Round 4 1925 until 2003, recording 133 wins, 96 losses and 1 draw.

60 years ago, in Round 6 1963, Hawthorn recorded a 22-point Glenferrie Oval win against North Melbourne – 11.17.83 to 9.7.61, with John Peck kicking five goals.

70 years ago, in Round 6 1953, Hawthorn recorded its first win for the season, by 20 points against Carlton at Glenferrie – 10.7.67 to 6.11.47, with Len Crane being the star player.

Playing outside Victoria in Round 6 has certainly been common for Hawthorn in recent seasons, with 2023 becoming the ninth consecutive season when this has happened, with six games at University of Tasmania Stadium and three at Giants Stadium.

Hawthorn’s most recent Round 6 game in Victoria in 2014 saw a comprehensive 66-point win against Richmond at the MCG – 18.10.118 to 7.10.52. The game was highlighted by a brilliant four-goal third quarter from Cyril Rioli, while Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell both played outstanding games.

Jason Dunstall holds the Hawthorn individual goal-kicking record against Adelaide, kicking nine goals on three separate occasions – in 1993 and 1994 (both at Football Park) and in 1996 (at Waverley).

Dunstall and Lance Franklin share the Hawthorn individual goals record for Round 6. Dunstall kicked nine goals in both 1992 and 1993, versus Collingwood and Adelaide respectively, a tally equaled by Franklin against Essendon in 2007.