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'....

This round marks the 30^th anniversary of an iconic 1980’s Hawthorn moment. 

It was in Round 18 1988 that Dermott Brereton ran through the Essendon huddle.

The margin in the Waverley encounter had been less than a goal at every change, but just before three-quarter time Jason Dunstall was about to shoot to give Hawthorn a 10-point lead. At the same time, Brereton was having a light-hearted tussle with Essendon’s Billy Duckworth, which somehow prompted the umpire to take the ball off Dunstall. Incensed, Brereton ran through the gathering Essendon huddle.

His actions, and a stirring three-quarter time address from coach Alan Joyce, produced the desired result as Hawthorn kicked 5.5 to 2.1 in the last quarter to win by 26 points – 12.16.88 to 9.8.62. Glenelg-recruit Tony Hall continued his brilliant first season in brown and gold with a 38-disposal, and three Brownlow votes, game.

Hawthorn has won 19 of its last 22 games against Carlton since the start of the 2001 season.

The three losses in that time were all at Docklands, but each was by only a small margin – 12 points (2004), six points (2005) and seven points (2017). However, Hawthorn has also recorded some massive victories against Carlton at Docklands, with victories by 100 (2007), 78 (2008) and 138 (2015).

Hawks’ games against Carlton at Docklands have twice attracted crowds of over 50,000, with the biggest crowd being 53,459 who attended the 100-point mauling in 2007 - 27.18.180 to 12.8.80. In Lance Franklin’s absence Jarryd Roughead booted five goals, abled assisted by Luke Hodge with four and with both Trent Croad and Tim Boyle kicking three. All three of the Brownlow vote-getters went onto play 300 games – Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Shane Crawford.

The other 50,000-plus crowd was in 2011 when 52,052 saw the Hawks keep Carlton to just one goal in the first half. However, the Blues fought back after half-time, reducing Hawthorn’s winning margin to just 12 points – 10.18.78 to 8.18.66. A magnificent running goal from first-year Hawk Isaac Smith sealed the win. Hodge got the three Brownlow votes in that game too. 

Read: Gunston joins the Hawks' 300 club

The head-to-head between the clubs, currently has Hawthorn on 62 wins and Carlton on 103. This is a deficit of 41, but this is a big improvement on the 57 it has blown out to twice – in 1983 and 2000. Indeed, when the deficit was 40 prior to last season’s loss it was the closest it had been since 1951. Hawthorn’s first 30 seasons in the competition only saw four victories against the Blues, these coming in 1939, 1940, 1945 and 1953. These seasons include one when Carlton was the reigning Premier and one when they went onto win the Flag.

Hawthorn’s best sequences of victories against Carlton have been the recent 14-win streak (2005 to 2016), while others were seven (1984 to 1986) and five (2001 to 2003). 

Having missed out last week, Alastair Clarkson gets another opportunity to bring up his 200^th win as Hawthorn coach this Sunday. His second 100 will have come quicker than his first, which took until his eighth season in charge. It was in Round 17 2012 that he celebrated his 100-win milestone with a 47-point victory against Collingwood at the MCG. 

Losing twice to the Lions in 2018 may bring back memories for older Hawks’ fans. Forty years ago, the Hawks lost to the previous incarnation of the Lions, Fitzroy, twice in the 1978 season. What made those losses more remarkable was that both were by a solitary point, at Princes Park in Round 5 and the Junction Oval in Round 16. Both were upsets in a year when Fitzroy finished ninth with eight wins, and the Hawks won the Flag. 

Hawthorn has played 90 Round 18 matches (there were no Round 18’s in 1925, 1942 or 1943) for 38 wins and 52 defeats. In recent seasons it has been a good round, with the Hawks winning six of their last seven Round 18 games, with victories in the past two seasons, against Richmond in 2016 and Fremantle in 2017.

10 years ago, in Round 18 2008, Hawthorn had a nine-goal Friday night victory against Collingwood, winning 17.14.116 to 8.14.62. Lance Franklin kicked eight goals and Jarryd Roughead four, while Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell were prolific ball-winners in the midfield. 

20 years ago, in Round 18 1998, Hawthorn scored a stunning upset win against Richmond. After 17 rounds of the 1998 season, the Hawks had only recorded three wins and looked destined for their first wooden-spoon since 1965. However, things began to improve on a cold, overcast and windy Sunday at Waverley when the last-placed Hawks comprehensively out-played the fifth-placed Tigers to win by 36 points – 10.10.70 to 4.10.34.

Paul Salmon dominated in the ruck and was a clear BOG, but he was ably supported by a long list of teammates including Craig Treleven, Shane Crawford, Daniel Harford, Jon Hassall and Aaron Lord. 

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.

Hawthorn’s great goal-kickers never managed big bags against Carlton. Peter Hudson, Leigh Matthews and Jason Dunstall all had a top score of seven goals against the Blues – in 1968, 1978 and 1989 respectively. The best individual tallies for Hawthorn against the Blues are nine by Peter Knights in 1985, eight by Garry Young (in a losing side) in 1959 and another eight by Jarryd Roughead in 2009.