In 2024, Jack Ginnivan will become the first individual to play for Hawthorn the season after playing in a premiership for another VFL-AFL club.

Three players moved to Hawthorn in the second season after a Flag, with John ‘Jiggy’ Harris coming as captain-coach in 1930 after playing in Collingwood’s 1928 Premiership, followed by Jack O’Keefe in 1943 after playing in Melbourne’s 1941 Flag; while Gordon Bowman featured in Melbourne’s 1948 Flag before his 1950 move to Glenferrie.

A further five players came to Hawthorn in the third season after a Flag elsewhere -Bert Chadwick, Herb Turner, Paul Salmon, Anthony Rock, and Shaun Rehn.

This season will see Jack Gunston become just the fifth Hawthorn player to return to the brown and gold after a stint at another VFL-AFL club.

The previous four instances were Lew Gough who returned after a stint at Melbourne, George Bennett (Footscray), Bernie Jones (Essendon) and Trent Croad (Fremantle).

This round marks the 70^th anniversary of the debut of the first player who went onto become a Hawthorn premiership player, John Peck.

Peck was aged just 16 years and 255 days when he made his debut in Round 1 1954, the youngest debutant in Hawthorn history, Peck started a 13-season career which saw him play 213 games, kick 575 goals and be a crucial member of the Hawks’ first Premiership team in 1961.

50 years apart, in 1971 and 2021, Hawthorn recorded memorable Round 1 wins against this week’s opponent Essendon.

In Round 1 1971, the Hawks defeated the Bombers at Windy Hill by 24 points - 13.18.96 to 10.12.72. In warm, sunny autumn conditions, a crowd of 19,214 saw Hawthorn take a nine-point quarter-time lead. Essendon then opened a fiery second quarter with a burst of three quick goals to grab a nine-point lead before Peter Hudson kicked his first goal of the season which was to produce a record equalling 150 goals, and the Hawks then took control. Kevin Heath, who had spent most of his career in defence, was best-on-ground playing ruck-rover and forward, while other good players included Hudson, Moore and Crimmins.

In Round 1 2021, only a small contingent of Hawks fans were able to secure tickets in a half-capacity Covid-restricted crowd of 25,128 at Docklands. Essendon led by 40 points just before half-time, but an eight-goal third quarter, including three from Dylan Moore, triggered a Hawks revival which ultimately saw Tim O’Brien kick the winning goal as Hawthorn won 14.8.92 to 13.13.91. Mitchell, Day, O’Meara, Jiath, Moore and Phillips were among the best for the Hawks.

This Saturday, the Hawks will be trying to avoid losing four in a row against Essendon for the first time since ending a horror sequence of 10 consecutive defeats from 1998 to 2005. Overall, the two clubs have met 168 times, with the Hawks winning 66 and the Bombers 102.

Hawthorn’s Round 1 record is 44 wins and 55 defeats from 99 games, but it has an unusually good record in years ending in 4, having won in the last six such seasons, a sequence stretching back to 1964.

10 years ago, in Round 1 2014, the Hawks began their Premiership defence on a positive note defeating Brisbane Lions in Launceston by 48 points – 21.13.139 to 13.13.91. Luke Breust and Jarryd Roughead both kicked five goals and Liam Shiels got the three Brownlow votes. Tim O’Brien and Derick Wanganeen made debuts, the latter coming on as sub at three quarter-time in what proved to be his only career game.

20 years ago, in Round 1 2004, Hawthorn made a promising start to the season, accounting for Melbourne by 49 points – 17.17.119 to 10.10.70. Mark Williams kicked four goals and Nathan Thompson three, while Richie Vandenberg got three Brownlow votes.

30 years ago, in Round 1 1994, Hawthorn thrashed St Kilda at Waverley by 56 points – 23.15.153 to 15.7.97. Jason Dunstall kicked nine goals but only got two Brownlow votes, with Darren Jarman getting the three votes.

40 years ago, in Round 1 1984, Princes Park was the venue for a 35-point Hawthorn victory against Sydney – 17.22.124 to 13.11.89. Ken Judge and skipper Leigh Matthews both kicked three goals, while Michael Byrne secured the three Brownlow votes.

50 years ago, in Round 1 1974, Hawthorn scored an upset 16-point win over reigning Premier Richmond at the MCG – 15.14.104 to 13.16.88. Peter Hudson, playing just his second game since the opening round of 1972, kicked three goals, but he was overshadowed by his understudy Michael Moncrieff who booted six. Other good players for the Hawks included Bohdan Jaworskyj, Peter Knights and John Hendrie. Jack Scrimshaw’s uncle, Ian Scrimshaw, was among the debutants for the Hawks.

60 years ago, in Round 1 1964, the Hawks travelled to the Lakeside Oval and defeated South Melbourne by 24 points – 14.13.97 to 10.13.73, with John Peck starring with eight goals and Kevin Coverdale and Garry Young also among the best.

This Saturday, 16 March will become the second earliest date on which Hawthorn has begun its season. The only season when Hawthorn began earlier was the Olympic year of 2000 when the Hawks played their Round 1 game on Monday, 13 March. That game ended in defeat so, if Hawthorn wins this Sunday, it will be the earliest in a calendar year that it has recorded a VFL-AFL victory.

Jason Dunstall holds the club record individual goal-kicking record against Essendon with 12 in 1992. Other big bags against the Bombers were 11 by Leigh Matthews in 1973 and 10 by Michael Moncrieff in 1972.

Dunstall also holds the club record for Round 1 having kicked 12 goals against Geelong in the opening rounds of both 1990 and 1992. Others to reach double figures in Round 1 were Alec Albiston (10 in 1940), Peter Hudson (10 in 1968) and Leigh Matthews (11 in 1981).