Reflecting on all the topical milestones and achievements, past and present, as we head into Round 7 of the 2018 season. This is 'Footy Flashbacks'....

Hawthorn great Robert Dipierdomenico turns 60 this Saturday, very appropriately on a day when the Hawks are playing Essendon. 

Many of the great highs, lows and controversial moments of Dipierdomenico’s outstanding career came against the Bombers, including the joy of the 1983 Premiership, and the pain of defeat the following two seasons. 

The man known to all as ‘Dipper’ played 240 games for Hawthorn, kicked 130 goals, became a Brownlow Medalist in 1986 and played in five Premierships. Happy Birthday Dipper!

Hawthorn’s latest debutant, James Worpel has something in common with Dipierdomenico. Both played their first games wearing number 38.

‘Dipper’ played his first game at just 17 years of age, coming on as a reserve in a shock loss to Fitzroy at the Junction Oval in Round 18 1975. It proved to be his only game in number 38, as he did not get selected for another game until Round 1 1978. By then, he had almost turned 20, and had graduated from 38 to the number 9 which he wore for the rest of his illustrious career. 

Given his excellent debut last Saturday night, Worpel may well earn quite a few more games wearing 38. Another famous debutant in 38 was Lance Franklin, who wore the number in 2005 before shifting to 23 from 2006 onwards. 

Hawthorn had a great record playing Essendon at Windy Hill in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Until the late 1960s, Hawthorn had achieved just six wins at the venue, including victories in the year the Hawks first made the Finals in 1957 and first Premiership season of 1961. Yet, in a massive turnaround, the Hawks pulled off 12 wins, in their last 17 games at Windy Hill, including six in a row from 1974 to 1979. 

The trend continued into the early 1980s, with memorable victories in 1981, 1982 and 1984. The 1982 encounter is best-remembered for Leigh Matthews breaking the behind post. However, at the time, the real excitement was that Hawthorn come from 19 points down at the final change to win by 18 points, in large part due to Matthews’ brilliance. 

It was a crucial game between the teams which were third and fourth on the ladder (both with 12-5 records). After a strong opening term, the Hawks had lost control of the game in the middle two quarters to trail 11.8 to 8.7. A Michael Tuck goal cut the margin to 13 points at the start of the final quarter and then Matthews took over. He kicked the next two goals and set up a 7.3 to 1.2 last quarter. Hawthorn won the game 15.10.100 to 12.10.82, with Russell Greene, Terry Wallace and David O’Halloran among the best players.

Read: Behind the Essendon rivalry

Oddly, Hawthorn has a much better record in recent away games against Essendon at Docklands, rather than in away games against them at the MCG. The Hawks have won their last four games away to the Bombers at Docklands; but have lost their last three MCG away games against them. In the same period, Hawthorn has won its three MCG home games versus Essendon. 

Overall, the two clubs have played each other 160 times, with the Hawks winning 63 and losing 97. Hawthorn has won seven of the last nine encounters, the only blemishes being the two-point defeat at the MCG in Round 2 2015 and the 25-point one in the opening round of 2017.

Hawthorn won eight consecutive Round 7 games from 1971 to 1978 and can equal that record on Saturday as the club currently has a winning sequence of seven in the round. A victory would also make it a winning round overall as currently, the Hawks’ Round 7 record is 46 wins, 46 losses and one draw.

Five years ago, the Hawks gained a modicum of revenge for their defeat in the previous season’s Grand Final by defeating Sydney by 37 points - 18.11.119 to 12.10.82. The cream rose to the top as the Brownlow votes went to Luke Hodge (3), Jarryd Roughead (2) and Sam Mitchell (1).

10 years ago, in Round 7 2008, an MCG crowd of 76,048 saw Hawthorn thrash Collingwood by 65 points – 24.10.154 to 13.11.89 – highlighted by a 10-goal final quarter onslaught. The specialist forwards had a day to remember as Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin both kicked 6, and Mark Williams contributed 5. Meanwhile Sam Mitchell was accumulating 39 disposals.

20 years ago, in Round 7 1998, Hawthorn recorded a second win for the season when they triumphed against Fremantle at the WACA Ground. The Hawks won 15.9.99 to 8.9.57, setting up the victory with a six goal to nil opening term. Jason Dunstall and Ben Dixon both kicked three goals, while Richard Taylor had an excellent 30-disposal game. 

40 years ago, in Round 7 1978, Hawthorn thrashed Footscray by 86 points – 27.15.177 to 13.13.91 – after a 11.3 to 2.0 final quarter. Norm Goss continued the stellar start to his Hawthorn career with 20 kicks and six goals, marginally ahead of Leigh Matthews with 19 kicks and five goals. In terms of kicks both were outshone by second-gamer Warren Lee who had 24 kicks and five handballs, figures even more remarkable because, in his debut four weeks earlier, he had been marooned on the interchange bench and had not got a single stat. 

The Round 7 individual Hawthorn goal-kicking tally is the highest for any round. In Round 7 1992, Jason Dunstall kicked 17 goals against Richmond, falling just one short of Fred Fanning’s VFL-AFL record of 18, but bettering the previous Hawthorn record of 16 set by Peter Hudson in 1969.

Dunstall also holds the club record against Essendon which is 12 in 1992. Other big bags against the Bombers were 11 by Leigh Matthews in 1973 and 10 by Michael Moncrieff in 1972.