This Sunday, Liam Shiels will become the 34^th individual to play 200 games for Hawthorn.

Hawthorn has the fourth highest number of players to have reached 200 club games, behind only Geelong, Carlton and Collingwood.

When Hawthorn beat Geelong in the 2008 Grand Final, it had never played an away game against Geelong at the MCG. In the 11 seasons since then, the Hawks have been fixtured with an away game against Geelong at the MCG every year. Unfortunately, in the past 10 seasons, Hawthorn has only won twice in these away games – by 36 points in 2015 and one point on Easter Monday last season.

In contrast, Hawthorn won nine of its last 12 away games at Geelong’s Kardinia Park home from 1986 to 2006. Several of these games were thrillers, with the Hawks’ victories including margins of three points (1987), five points (1995), two points (1996), six points (1997) and two points again (1999).

Hawthorn’s most recent trip to Kardinia Park was in Round 3 2006. Despite going in as massive underdogs, the Hawks pulled off a stunning 52-point upset win. Geelong were early season Flag favourites but, after leading by seven points at half-time, the young Hawthorn team blew the Cats away to win 15.11.101 to 7.7.49. The Brownlow votes went to Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Richie Vandenberg – who all ended up captaining the club. The only Hawthorn player still on the list in 2019 who featured in that 2006 game was Jarryd Roughead.

Read: Bupa report - R17

The Hawks’ strong record at Kardinia Park contributed to the fact that in the 25 games between Hawthorn and Geelong from 1987 to 2000, the Hawks had 20 wins, including ten by less than two goals, and only five defeats (none in close games).

In total, Hawthorn and Geelong have played 165 times, with Hawthorn winning 74, Geelong 90 and with one draw in 1963.

Hawthorn is in 11^th position on the ladder after Round 17 for first time since 1951. In the intervening 67 seasons, Hawthorn has been in every other position on the ladder between 1^st and 16^th at least once, and in all bar 15^th position at least twice. The most common position which Hawthorn has been in after Round 17 in those 67 years has been 1^st on 13 occasions, followed by 3^rd 10 times.

As foreshadowed in last week’s column, Ollie Hanrahan has claimed a share of the goalkicking record for number 41 just three games into his AFL career. His five goals have him sharing the lead for the guernsey with Darrin Pritchard who kicked five goals in his 16 games in 1987, the only season in which he wore the number before shifting to number 18.

Hawthorn has played 91 Round 18 matches (there were no Round 18’s in 1925, 1942 or 1943) for 39 wins and 52 defeats. In recent seasons it has been a good round, with the Hawks winning seven of their last eight Round 18 games, with victories in the past three seasons, against Richmond in 2016, Fremantle in 2017 and Carlton last season.

20 years ago, in Round 18 1999, Hawthorn broke a five-game losing streak with a 25-point Waverley Park win against Fremantle. The Hawks kicked 15.12.102 as opposed to an inaccurate Dockers’ score of 9.23.77. Nick Holland and Aaron Lord both kicked three goals for Hawthorn.

Shane Crawford was a clear BOG with an equal career-high of 41 disposals. Remarkably, this was equalling the high he had set the previous week versus Adelaide at Football Park. There is no doubt that at this stage of his Brownlow Medal-winning season he was in the best form of his career. His next highest disposal tally was 38 recorded just three weeks earlier.

30 years ago, in Round 18 1989, Hawthorn survived a late Carlton fightback to win by five points at Waverley- 14.11.95 to 14.6.90. The Hawks led by as much as 39 points midway through the third term, but Carlton twice hit the lead in the last quarter.

On the first occasion, a strong Dermott Brereton mark in the goal-square led to the lead being restored, and on the second a Jason Dunstall snap put the brown and golds back in front. This was Dunstall’s fifth goal for the day and 100^th for the season, so at the 28-minute mark of the last quarter the ground was invaded by spectators. Eventually, the ground was cleared, Hawthorn kicked one more behind and the siren sounded. With 18 rounds completed, Hawthorn were in top position with a 16-2 record.

60 years ago, in Round 18 1959, Hawthorn recorded a comfortable 43-point win against Richmond at the Punt Road Oval – 17.14.116 to 10.13.73. Garry Young, who had kicked eight goals the week before in a loss to Carlton, backed it up with a further seven goals here. This took him to 35 goals for the season and a first club goal-kicking award. Captain Graham Arthur chipped in with three goals. The win took the Hawks to a 9-9 record for the season and 7^th position on the ladder.

Jason Dunstall holds the club’s individual goal-kicking record against Geelong kicking 12 goals in Round 1 of both 1990 and 1992.

Peter Hudson holds the Hawthorn Round 18 record with a tally of nine against St Kilda in 1970. The previous highest before Hudson had come 30 years earlier when Jim Bohan kicked eight in 1940.