Former Hawks gathered at the club last week as part of the 21st Annual Friends of the Hawks Museum Function to re-live the magic moments of the 1999 Ansett Cup Night Premiership.

Trent Croad, Ben Dixon, Daniel Harford, Nick Holland, Brad Lloyd, Chris Obst, Paul Salmon, Tony Woods and their Football Manager, John Hook gathered on centre stage in the Players’ Theatrette on August 1 to celebrate the special premiership.

The museum curator kicked off the evening, outlining the bond that existed between the players when they assisted the volunteers with the mail outs for the Club Membership back in the mid-1990s. This night offered the opportunity to meet again.  The big questions being ‘what are the players doing now?’ and, ‘what do they recall of the Night Premiership?’

MC Richard ‘Mr Footy Flashbacks’ Alsop then stepped forward to introduce the first panel of Ben Dixon, Daniel Harford - both of whom have forged careers in the Media and Coaching - and Chris Obst, now a Senior Constable with the Victorian Water Police. They set the tone for the evening. 

The audience was in fits of laughter as the three players piled on in-house stories, jokes and put downs.  They were full of mischief as they told their tall tales, directed at their teammates and their Football Manager, John Hook.  Obst was somewhat of a mystery to the audience.  There were many questions from the floor about his role with the Water Police and his favourite fishing spots!

Up next, Brad Lloyd, now Director of Football with the Carlton Football Club and Tony Woods, Head of Commercial Development with Champion Data. 

Lloyd, who won the 1997 Gardiner Medal and was captain of Williamstown’s 2003 Premiership spoke with gratitude for former president, Ian Dicker, who guided him in his university studies and with work experience placements that laid the foundations of his career in sports administration.

Woods opened his heart, explaining that this was the first time that he had returned to Hawthorn after a 20-year hiatus.  He spoke of his time at Fitzroy, Collingwood and what Hawthorn eventually meant to him.  How his laid-back approach to life led him to back packing across the globe before gaining a reputation as a creative composer and keyboard artist.

The third panel of Nick Holland, now back at Hawthorn as GM of Legal, Risk and Integrity, Trent Croad, now a Landscape Gardiner with Flemings’ Nurseries and Paul Salmon who is in demand as Business Development Manager had a chance to shine.

Holland won the 1995 Norwich Rising Star and the 2000 Club Champion.  Croad gained lasting fame as a member of the 2008 Premiership, and Salmon won the 1999 Tuck Medal, the 1996 and 1997 Club Champion and was named in Hawthorn’s Team of the Century in 2001. 

They enthralled the audience, with many a marvellous story and lots of give and take banter about playing in the Night Premiership.  Hawthorn scored the 10 goals before Port Adelaide notched their first in the third quarter.  The players stated proudly that winning the 1999 Ansett Cup - plus a handy $125,000 cheque for the Club - was a real team achievement. 

Croad explained the terrifying encounters he and his teammate, Jon Hay had against North Melbourne’s Glenn Archer, Wayne Carey and Mick Martin leaving the audience relieved that they were still alive.

Hawthorn enhanced its status as the best performed team in night and pre-season series history.  It was the Hawks’ ninth such premiership.

The designer of the original Big Hawks Guernsey, Mark Warren was invited to the stage where he was acknowledged for creating such a popular alternate guernsey.  His Big Hawk guernsey holds a unique place in Hawthorn’s history.  All other Premierships won by the Club were played in the famed vertical stripes.

The vibe in the theatrette reached fever pitch as the museum curator called the players back to the stage to receive a 2023 version of the Big Hawk Guernsey presented by John Hook.  The audience took photo after photo as this very popular group of players held their guernseys with pride.  The Big Hawk Guernsey added to its illustrious story when the current-day Hawks wore the guernsey as they defeated Collingwood in the Retro Round.

In true Hawthorn style, the evening ended with the popular door prizes.  Ten happy punters picked their prizes, followed by many selfies with the former players holding their Big Hawk Guernseys. This night will live long in the memories of those Friends of the Hawks Museum in attendance.

A big thank you to Claire and Carlie from the Foundation Department, Rachel the museum’s resident photographer and to Joanie for her marvelous catering.

To join the Friends of the Hawks Museum hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au