Hawthorn will take on Carlton at IKON Park on Thursday for the first time in over 15 years.
Take a trip down memory lane with us as we look at how our last appearance at the famous Princes Park went down.
Two wins from the opening five weeks, Hawthorn had endured an up-and-down start to their 2003 season.
Exciting wins over West Coast and Sydney had been soured by losses to Richmond, Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
Having missed out on finals the year previous by percentage, the Hawks faced an important game against Carlton to square their season ledger and remain in touch with the top eight.
Given Princes Park, or Optus Oval as it was known at the time, remained an AFL venue for the next two years, the Hawks players probably didn’t acknowledge that they represented the last Hawthorn side that would play at the famous ground for premiership points.
The 16th pick in the 2001 National Draft, a 20-year-old Rick Ladson was set for his debut while Jade Rawlings was celebrating his 100th AFL match.
A rock in defence, Rawlings was magnificent throughout the game, gathering 22 disposals, six marks – four of which were contested – and a clear game-high 13 rebound 50s, which was more than double the next-most on the ground.
It was one of only two games in Rawlings’ 148-game career where he was awarded three Brownlow votes.
He was also a part of a defensive group which had the challenge of looking after Brendan Fevola, who booted eight goals in the Blues’ nine-point win over North Melbourne the week previous.
Shane Crawford and Angelo Lekkas had been shining lights for the Hawks in the first five weeks of the season – Lekkas especially who had averaged 22.4 possessions and 1.6 goals to start the year.
The game itself was a tight one with the Hawks leading at every change but never by more than three goals.
Corey McKernan proved difficult to contain in the ruck and around goals, kicking two goals, but Jonathan Hay was able to keep Fevola quiet with the Blues sharpshooter booting just the one major for the day.
The final quarter swayed back and forth in momentum but when the hard-running Joel Smith kicked a goal late in the term, his second of the day, a Hawthorn victory was confirmed.
