The introduction of the 100-year guernsey with the names of 973 players and 32 coaches has been a wonderful initiative by the club as part of its 100 years in the VFL/AFL.
The club’s foresight has captivated the families of the former players.
The club has made available to the 973 players who have played at least one senior game since the club joined the VFL / AFL in 1925, and their coaches, a unique guernsey with all their names recorded in debut order in a special presentation box.
The Hawks Museum has become a meeting place where many families of former players have come to pick up either their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle or brother’s 100-year guernsey.
These families have added new stories, photos and memorabilia to the Club Collection.
The museum has stepped into today’s world. Come visit and share your Hawks Museum memories! Snap a photo while visiting and tell us what you loved on our new webpage which can be found via this link - https://campaign.hawthornfc.com.au/tb_app/519133. We can’t wait to see what you enjoyed.
Previously, many of these families had received the Debut Order Tie and now intend to frame the Debut Tie with their 100-year guernsey.
Former cult full forward, Albert ‘Butch’ Prior has one such family.
Prior played in 1941 and 1944-1950, and the Prior family’s links continue to today with son-in-law Andre Belterman, who married Prior’s daughter, Charmaine.
The Beltermans now reside in Queensland and the day after Albert Prior’s guernsey was mailed to them, that state was hit by huge floods.
The Beltermans were in the direct path of the storm.
After waiting a fortnight, the museum received good news and a happy photo as Butch’s 100-year guernsey reached Andre and Charmaine without incident.
Albert “Butch” Prior
Born January 15, 1921 – Died January 21, 1971
Recruited Camberwell FC
Debut Order 293
Guernsey 24
Played 1941, 1944-1950
Games 103, Goals 258
First Game Round 18, 1941 v South Melbourne
Last Game Round 17, 1950 v South Melbourne
Leading Goalkicking: 1946 (52) 1947 (67), 1948 (47), 1949 (48)
Most Unselfish Player Award: 1945, 1946
HFC Life Member 1950
Club Committee 1957-1959
Recruited from Camberwell, Albert ‘Butch’ Prior played his first game in Round 18, 1941.
His football career was then put on hold as he joined the Army during World War II, serving as a signalman.
When he was discharged in October 1943, he resumed work in his popular Butcher’s shop on Glenferrie Road.
His role in the shop lent him the nickname ‘Butch’.
Starting with the third 18, he quickly came under the notice of the selectors.
Tall and strongly built, he could take a strong mark on the lead or in crowded packs.
Prior became a cult figure with his unusual but reliable kicking style.
He had a unique approach, standing hunchback and appearing to throw the ball onto his foot.
This would launch torpedo punt kicks that spiralled goalward, splitting the goal posts dead centre.
He had his best season in 1947, kicking 67 goals.
He was a sensation during that year in the VFL, as he began with six, eight, three and eight goals in succession.
That high standard could not be maintained, but he was most valuable in a side that often struggled to score.
Prior topped Hawthorn's goalkicking in every season from 1946 to 1949 with his best being that 67 goals in 1947.
He kicked eight goals in a game three times, against Footscray Round 3 and Richmond in Round 5, in 1947 and in his last game for Hawthorn, against South Melbourne, Round 17, 1950, during a season where Hawthorn lost all 18 of its home-and-away games.
Prior was the first Hawk to play 100 games wearing number 24.
In 1951 Prior was cleared from Hawthorn and was appointed coach of the East Hawthorn team in the Eastern Suburban League.
He returned to Hawthorn as a member of the Club Committee from 1957-1959.
However, the Prior connection was to continue.
In early 1995, The Hawks Museum submitted a letter to Hawk Talk seeking a Mayblooms guernsey for display.
To the joy of the museum curator, June Prior, the wife of Albert ‘Butch’ Prior rang to say that she had her late husband’s guernsey.
It fitted the description of a Mayblooms guernsey, but he wore it as a Hawk.
Bob McCaskell introduced the vertical stripe guernsey in 1950 when he was appointed as the new coach.
At that point in time, the origins of the Hawk nickname, and just when it replaced the Maybloom, was shrouded in mystery.
We now know that Hawthorn became The Hawks in 1943.
The Prior connection continues with Andre and Charmaine Belterman who became Friends of the Hawks Museum in 2008.
Andre offered his services as an off-site museum volunteer to update the guernsey number list for the club website annually, a task he has fulfilled since 2010.
The Hawks Museum is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday visits can be arranged by appointment. Please find the contact details below.
Contact
03 9535 3075 or email hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au
Admission
Glenferrie Gold and Friends of the Hawks Museum are free (please wear current badge).
General entry by gold coin donation, cashless payment also available.
Location
Bunjil Bagora, Waverley Park
Stadium Circuit
Mount Waverley
More information
https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/club/history/hawks-museum
