Reflecting on all the topical milestones and achievements, past and present, as we head into Round 15 of the 2018 season. This is 'Footy Flashbacks'....
One of the more impressive debuts in Hawthorn history occurred 40 years ago, in Round 15 1978. Peter Russo, just 18 years old, burst onto the scene in the match of the day against North Melbourne at Princes Park, with 16 disposals and three crucial goals, including kicking the first two goals of the day.
Having been humiliated by the Kangaroos in the previous season’s Preliminary Final and comfortably beaten by them again in Round 3, the Hawks were desperate for revenge. It was a tight, tough encounter which the Hawks led by three points at the final, but two early last quarter North goals had Hawks’ fans fearing the worst.
A goal from David O’Halloran (which hit the goal umpire and led to a length delay before the all-clear) swung the momentum back Hawthorn’s way and subsequent majors to Leigh Matthews, Russo and Tony King ensured victory – 10.14.74 to 7.13.55. Michael Tuck, Peter Knights and Norm Goss were among the best.
Russo retained he position in the team for the duration of the season, kicking four goals in the rout of Collingwood in the Qualifying Final and playing in a Premiership in just his 11th senior game. He went onto play 162 games for the Hawks, kicking 102 goals. He played in another Premiership in 1986, having missed the 1983 Flag due to injury.
Hawthorn will be hoping to extend an unusual 50-year record this Saturday night.
Having drawn with GWS in Launceston last season, the Hawks will be hoping to extend a sequence of winning the next encounter against their opponent in a draw. The draws against South Melbourne (1968), North Melbourne (1985), Bulldogs (1996 and 1999) and St Kilda (2010) were all followed by Hawthorn wins the next time the two clubs met.
The last occasion when Hawthorn lost to an opponent in their next clash after a draw was in 1963 when a draw with Geelong in Round 7 was followed by a loss to the Cats in Round 18.
Another win in the next meeting after a draw was way back in 1939 when, after drawing with Fitzroy at Brunswick Street in Round 4, Hawthorn won the return encounter at Glenferrie by a solitary point, with the remarkable score of 10.20.80 to 12.7.79.
Round 15 has the chance to become the first round to deliver 50 Hawthorn wins. It currently shares 49 wins with Rounds 3 and 16. Currently Round 15 has produced 49 wins, 2 draws and 41 defeats.
In the 27 seasons from 1970 to 1996, Hawthorn’s Round 15 return was remarkably good, with 24 wins and only 3 losses. Hawthorn has won its last three games in Round 15, against Gold Coast (2014), Fremantle (2015) and Collingwood (2017), with a bye in 2016.
10 years ago, in Round 15 2008, Hawthorn comfortably accounted for Sydney – 15.16.106 to 10.15.75 – a first victory against the Swans since 2003, ending a run of six consecutive defeats. Lance Franklin and Mark Williams both kicked four goals for the Hawks.
30 years ago, in Round 15 1988, Hawthorn relied on a 7.4 to 0.3 second quarter to defeat Brisbane Bears at Carrara. Hawthorn won by 24 points – 17.13.115 to 12.19.91 – against a Bears team coached by former Hawthorn great Peter Knights and containing two former Hawks, Michael McCarthy and Rod Lester-Smith. Jason Dunstall kicked nine goals for Hawthorn.
50 years ago, in Round 15 1968, Hawthorn recorded just its fifth win against Carlton at Princes Park in 39 attempts, beating the Blues, 11.15.81 to 9.14.68, with Peter Hudson booting seven goals. The fact that Carlton won the Flag in 1968 made the victory more meritorious.
Read: Giants clash 'like a final', says O'Meara
When Hawthorn lost to GWS at Spotless Stadium in both 2015 and 2016, it became the first non-Victorian venue at which Hawthorn had lost its first two games. Since Hawthorn first played at a non-Victorian ground in 1979, it has won its first matches at four grounds and at a further six venues won at the second opportunity after a first-up loss. Hopefully, it will be third time lucky at Spotless Stadium this week.
Last Saturday’s attendance of 9,007 against Gold Coast was the smallest at a Hawthorn game since 8,209 saw the Hawks lose to the Brisbane Bears at the Gabba in Round 16 1995. That was the lowest at a Hawthorn home game since a paltry 5,741 braved wet conditions for another encounter against the Bears at Princes Park in Round 13 1991.
Until the late 1980s, attendances below 10,000 were not uncommon at Hawthorn games. For instance, in 1987 Hawthorn had crowds below 10,000 at Princes Park home games against Geelong, Melbourne and Richmond, as well as in an away game against Brisbane.
Games played on 30 June provided something of a roller-coaster ride for Hawthorn in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973, the Hawks found themselves 40 points behind Melbourne at half-time, but then recovered to win by seven points. In 1979, the date was a bleaker one as Hawthorn lost by 105 points to Collingwood at Victoria Park, but happiness returned in 1984 with a 104-point win against St Kilda at Moorabbin.
The best individual return for a Hawthorn player in Round 15 is 12 goals, recorded by Peter Hudson in a 23-point Hawthorn win at Glenferrie in 1971 against their subsequent Grand Final opponent St Kilda. Jarryd Roughead holds the record against GWS kicking six in the 2012 MCG encounter.
