Fergus Greene’s 11 goals in six games makes him the club’s leading goalkicker to date in 2023.

It’s early days, but if he were to retain the lead until the end of the season, he would become the first player in his first season at Hawthorn to top the clubs goalkicking since Peter Hudson in 1967.

Others to top the goalkicking in their first Hawthorn season were Les Woodford (1925), Jack Green (1934), Alby Naismith (1938), Kevin Coghlan (1953) and Terry Ingersoll (1957). Green kicked the most goals in his first Hawthorn season with a remarkable 80 in 18 games, after transferring from Carlton, followed by Hudson who managed 57 in the 17 games he played in his debut season.

Hawthorn has lost consecutive games by under a goal for the first time in 50 years. The losses to GWS by two points and Adelaide by three points in the past two rounds are the first pair of such defeats since Rounds 18 and 19 in 1973, when the Hawks lost to Geelong by one point at Kardinia Park and Richmond by five points at Glenferrie. Those defeats proved extremely costly as Hawthorn narrowly missed the Finals in 1973.

The Hawks most recently won two consecutive games by under a goal in early 2016 when remarkably they won three consecutive games from Rounds 3 to 5 all by three points.

Hawthorn has won 11 of its last 16 games against the Western Bulldogs. Hawthorn won eight consecutive games against the Bulldogs from 2010 to 2016, the winning sequence started and ended with thrilling three-point victories. The most recent victory against the Bulldogs was in Round 22 2021 when the Hawks defeated the Bulldogs by 27 points in Launceston. Overall, the Hawks hold an 84-80 advantage in the head-to-head between the clubs, with two draws.

Hawthorn has won just one of its last seven games at Docklands, the one victory being against Adelaide in Round 17 last season. However, the Hawks have an overall winning record at the ground with 49 wins, one draw and 38 defeats in 88 games.

Hawthorn won eight consecutive Round 7 games from 2011 to 2018, but has lost its past four, three to Melbourne (2019, 2020 and 2022) and one to St Kilda (2021). Hawthorn has played a total of 98 games in Round 7 for 47 wins, 50 defeats and one draw.

10 years ago, in Round 7 2013, Hawthorn earned a small piece of revenge for its defeat in the previous season’s Grand Final, defeating Sydney by 37 points – 18.11.119 to 12.10.82. A crowd of 54,725 saw the goals shared around with Jarryd Roughead kicking four and Lance Franklin, Jack Gunston and David Hale all with three. Luke Hodge (32 disposals) and Sam Mitchell (30 disposals) were both outstanding.

30 years ago, in Round 7 1993, Hawthorn thrashed Brisbane by 43 points at Waverley – 16.17.113 to 10.10.70. Jason Dunstall kicked seven goals and Paul Hudson five, while John Platten, Ray Jencke and Darren Jarman were the leading possession-getters.

50 years ago, in Round 7 1973, Hawthorn trailed Geelong by five points at half-time at Glenferrie but powered away in the second half to win by 61 points - 19.15.129 to 9.14.68. Michael Moncrieff kicked six goals and Alan Goad four, with the best players including Don Scott, Alan Martello, Leon Rice, and Kevin Heath.

This game is also notable for the fact that Geoff Ablett made his debut, starting on the bench with his future brother-in-law Michael Tuck. Tuck came on at half-time, but Ablett had to wait until the last quarter for his opportunity. Ablett, known as ‘Racehorse’, for his lightning speed on the wing, went on to play 202 games for Hawthorn, including being a member of the 1976 and 1978 Premiership teams.

60 years ago, in Round 7 1963, fourth-placed Hawthorn played a dramatic draw with second-placed Geelong at Kardinia Park. With just minutes to go the Hawks trailed by seven points, but a goal to Ian Law, and a behind to Des Dickson, earned them a share of the points, with both teams scoring 9.12.66. A crowd of 29,374 saw Hawthorn play a tough brand of football with The Herald describing how ‘Hawthorn’s niggling and closing up tactics were paying off – Geelong were being put off their normal game’.

80 years ago, in Round 7 1943, Hawthorn recorded a fourth consecutive win for the first time since joining the VFL, defeating North Melbourne by 41 points at Glenferrie – 20.16.136 to 13.17.95. Wally Culpitt kicked five goals, Jack O’Keefe four and Tommy Lahiff three, with Jack Barker and George Bennett among the other good players. Hawthorn was now in the unusually heady position of third on the ladder, behind only the undefeated reigning Premier Essendon and Fitzroy.

90 years ago, in Round 7 1933, Hawthorn defeated Essendon at Windy Hill by nine points – 16.9.105 to 15.6.96. This was a new record score for Hawthorn since joining the VFL, surpassing 16.7.103 versus St Kilda in 1930. Jack Zander kicked four goals and Bert Mills was brilliant at centre half-back.

The Round 7 individual Hawthorn goal-kicking tally is the highest for any round. In Round 7 1992, Jason Dunstall kicked 17 goals against Richmond, falling just one short of Fred Fanning’s VFL-AFL record of 18, but bettering the previous Hawthorn record of 16 set by Peter Hudson in 1969.

Dunstall also holds the Hawthorn individual goal-kicking record against the Bulldogs with 14 goals at Waverley in Round 19 1996.