For the first time in its 99 seasons in the VFL-AFL, Hawthorn has in the same season kept an opponent goalless in a half and been held goalless itself in a half.

In Round 10, the Hawks restricted West Coast to just 0.2 in the second half and last Sunday managed just 0.5 themselves in the first half against Carlton.

Sunday was just the tenth time in its VFL-AFL history that Hawthorn has been without a goal at half-time. Six of the ten instances took place between 1925 and 1953, with the more recent ones being in 1979, 2009 and 2017. Pleasingly, the Hawks rally in the third quarter meant that the final score of 7.10.52 was the club’s third highest final score after a goalless first half.

Remarkably, Sunday’s game took place on the 80^th anniversary of the costliest goalless first half in Hawthorn history.

As referenced in last week’s Footy Flashbacks, in the wartime 1943 season Round 16 was the final round and Hawthorn needed either a win or a draw at lowly North Melbourne to make the VFL Finals for the first time. At half-time, the Hawks had kicked 0.8 to 4.9, before a second half revival saw them fall agonisingly short, losing by one point – 7.16.58 to 8.11.59.

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

The Hawks’ overall record in 13 games against the Giants is six wins, a draw and six defeats. Five of the six losses have been at Giants Stadium, the only other one being the two-point defeat at Norwood Oval earlier this season. Hawthorn has 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 losses to GWS, there were also defeats there by Collingwood and Melbourne in the Covid-ravaged 2020 season.

The Hawks’ losses in their first seven games at Giants Stadium has created the club’s worst losing streak at a new venue in the modern era but is still behind some earlier ones which included Lake Oval and MCG (both 10 losses from the start), Princes Park and Punt Road (both 14) and most notably Victoria Park (28).

Sunday’s crowd of 66,337 was the second largest ever for a home and away game between Hawthorn and Carlton. The only larger attendance for a game against the Blues was 69,814 in 2009. Sunday’s home crowd was just 20 larger than the 66,317 who attended the away game against Carlton in Round 3 last season, a game also played at the 1.10pm Sunday timeslot.

Sunday’s attendance also means that Hawthorn has had three home and away attendances over 65,000 in the same season for the first time since 2018 and three or more in the same season for just the ninth time. The most 65,000-plus attendances in a single Hawthorn home and away season was five in 2012.

Despite this only being the 14^th clash between the Hawks and the Giants, it will be the third game played on 8 July. The two clubs’ first ever meeting was on 8 July 2012 and resulted in a 162-point Hawthorn win. Five years later, the two teams were much more evenly matched and on 8 July 2017 they fought out a draw in Launceston.

Hawthorn has played 95 games in Round 17 for 38 wins, one draw and 56 defeats. This record was not helped by the 18 seasons from 1994 to 2011, when the club recorded only two wins and a draw. The Hawks then won five consecutive Round 17 games from 2012 to 2016, but have won only two since, against Fremantle in 2019, and a 32-point win over Adelaide at Docklands last season.

10 years ago, in Round 17 2013, Hawthorn defeated the Western Bulldogs in Launceston by 19 points – 13.17.95 to 11.10.76. Jarryd Roughead kicked three goals and the best players included Jordan Lewis, Isaac Smith, Ben Stratton and Bradley Hill.

30 years ago, in Round 17 1993, Jason Dunstall kicked nine and Paul Hudson eight in a 92-point thrashing of Sydney at Waverley. Surprisingly, Hudson’s eight goal game did not secure him a single Brownlow vote as these went to Stephen Lawrence (3), Dunstall (2) and Gary Ayres (1). The Hawks won 24.15.159 to 9.13.67 and the margin could have been greater, after leading by 105 points at three quarter time.

40 years ago, in Round 17 1983, Hawthorn thrashed Richmond in its only game at the MCG in the 1983 home and away season. Leigh Matthews was at his brilliant best, kicking five opening quarter goals, as the Hawks piled on 8.2 to 3.1. Richmond got within 16 points early in the last quarter, before Hawthorn responded by unleashing a stunning burst of eight goals in eight minutes to win 22.14.146 to 11.16.82. Terry Wallace, Chris Mew, Gary Ayres, Kelvin Moore, Gary Buckenara, Leigh Matthews and Russell Greene were listed as the best for the Hawks.

50 years ago, in Round 17 1973, Hawthorn consolidated its position in the Five with a workmanlike 37-point win against Fitzroy at Glenferrie – 15.10.100 to 9.9.63. Leigh Matthews kicked four goals, while Alan Martello was best-on-ground.

60 years ago, in Round 17 1963, after trailing by a point at half-time, Hawthorn restricted North Melbourne to just one goal in the second half to run out comfortable 41-point winners at Arden Street. John Peck (4) and Rod Olsson (3) were the multiple goalkickers for the Hawks, while Ian Law and Colin Youren were also among the best.

Jarryd Roughead holds the Hawks’ individual record against GWS kicking six in 2012 at the MCG. Peter Hudson has kicked the most goals for Hawthorn in Round 17, a tally of 10 recorded against St Kilda at Waverley in 1977.