This Sunday, Hawthorn will be attempting to win five consecutive games for the first time since 2018. In that year, Hawthorn won the last six games of the home and away season, from Round 18 to Round 23.

The Hawks will also be attempting to win three consecutive games against West Coast for the first time since winning five in a row from 2012 to 2015.

The holders of three consecutive lockers in the Hawthorn rooms have reached 100 games in their numbers this season. 

Number 4 Jarman Impey reached 100 Hawthorn games in Round 3, James Worpel reached 100 games in number 5 (after 11 games in number 38) in Round 9, and James Sicily reached 100 games in number 6 (after 44 games in number 21) in Round 12.

Another number milestone already in 2024 is that Connor Macdonald has become just the fourth player to reach 50 games in number 31 for Hawthorn. The only previous number 31s to play 50 games in the number were Garry Young (108 games, 1956-65), the late Bernie Jones (65 games, 1973-77) and Ricky Henderson (69 games, 2017-20). 

Young and Henderson played their whole Hawthorn careers in number 31 whereas, after a brief stint at Essendon, Jones returned and played a further eight games in number 39. Given the games played in the number, 31 has probably punched above its weight as a Premiership number with Young (1961), Jones (1976), Greg Madigan (1989) and Stuart Dew (2008) all playing in Flags in number 31.

The crowd of 92,311 in Round 14 was the second biggest at a Hawthorn home and away game behind only the 92,935 who attended a game against Collingwood at Waverley in Round 11 1981. Both games saw Hawthorn wins by very similar margins, 46 points in 1981 and 48 points in 2024. 

Hawthorn has a less positive record in home and away games it has played with crowds between 80,000 and 90,000. There have been five such games and the Hawks have a 1-4 record, with a win against Collingwood in 2012 being balanced against a loss to the Magpies the previous season, and defeats by Geelong in 2008, 2013 and 2014.

With two attendances above 70,000 already this season, 2024 has become the eighth season when Hawthorn has had multiple 70,000-plus home and away crowds following in the footsteps of 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

This round, Hawthorn plays on 30 June. Games on this date have produced some contrasting results in past years highlighted by consecutive 100-point margins - a 105-point loss to Collingwood in 1979, followed by a 104-point win against St Kilda in 1984.

Hawthorn and West Coast have played 56 times, with the Hawks winning 26 and losing 30. The Hawks have won the past two encounters, by 25 points at the MCG in 2022 and by a massive 116 points at University of Tasmania Stadium last season.

The two clubs have only met twice previously at Perth Stadium with Hawthorn defeating the then reigning Premiers by 38 points in 2019 but going down by 32 points in 2020. Against all opponents there, Hawthorn has a 3-5 record, having won the first three (one each against Fremantle, West Coast and Carlton) and lost the most recent five.

The Hawks’ Round 16 record is one of the club’s best with 51 wins, 47 losses and one draw (in 2017) from 99 games. 

Hawthorn won nine consecutive Round 16 matches from 1956 to 1964, a further eight from 1968 to 1975, and six more from 1989 to 1994. However, the Hawks have lost their past four Round 16 games, with the most recent victory being a Friday night thriller in 2019, coming from behind to defeat Collingwood by four points at the MCG,

30 years ago, in Round 16 1994, the Hawks thrashed St Kilda by 64 points at Waverley – 21.16.142 to 11.12.78. Jason Dunstall, in his 200^th game, kicked five goals, while the midfielders Ben Allan (4 goals) and Shane Crawford (3) also impacted the scoreboard. Other good players were John Platten, Andrew Gowers, Darren Jarman and Anthony Condon.

40 years ago, in Round 16 1984, Hawthorn had an even bigger Waverley win defeating Richmond by 88 points – 28.17.185 to 14.13.97. Peter Curran and John Kennedy both kicked six goals, while Dermott Brereton booted four and Michael McCarthy three. Russell Greene had an outstanding game accumulating 38 disposals, taking 11 marks and kicking two goals.

50 years ago, in Round 16 1974, fourth-placed Hawthorn ground out a 21-point win against Footscray at the Western Oval – 12.9.81 to 8.12.60. The roving combination of Leigh Matthews and Peter Crimmins was excellent, and Charlie Grummisch continued his good run with another three-goal haul.

60 years ago, in Round 16 1964, Hawthorn defeated Fitzroy at Brunswick Street by nine points – 10.13.73 to 9.10.64. John Peck kicked three goals while the list of best players included Law, Albiston, Nalder, Growcott, Phil Hay and Arthur.

Jarryd Roughead set a new club record of eight goals against West Coast in Launceston in 2014, passing Jason Dunstall, who had kicked seven against the Eagles in both 1988 and 1989.

Peter Hudson, Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton share the Round 16 Hawthorn individual goal-kicking record with 11 goals. Hudson kicked 11 in 1970, equalled by Dunstall in 1989 and Brereton in 1990.