Hawthorn will be hoping to preserve its unbeaten Thursday night record when it takes on Port Adelaide this week. The Hawks have played three Thursday night games in the past two seasons, all interstate, and won them all.
In 2015, Hawthorn beat Adelaide by 29 points, watched by an Adelaide Oval crowd of 49,108. Last season the Hawks returned to the same venue to take on Port Adelaide and won by 22 points. Then, who could forget the following week at the SCG when a late Cyril Rioli goal saw the Hawks home by five points.
However, it should be pointed out that Hawthorn has lost on a Thursday, but in the daytime. The Hawks’ first Thursday VFL-AFL game was on Anzac Day 1963, a game also notable as the first time Hawthorn ever played in front of a home and away game crowd of more than 50,000. The Hawks lost by four points after storming home from 26 points behind at three quarter time, John Peck starring with six goals.
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James Cousins’ debut against Sydney saw the number 46 in action for Hawthorn for the first time since Chris Mew wore it in the 1983 Grand Final. Mew wore 46 in his first four seasons before shifting to the number 2 for the remainder of his stellar Hawthorn career. Likewise Dallas Willsmore’s first game last Friday meant the number 20 made its first appearance since a Premiership. However, in contrast to the 34 year gap for number 46, it was less than two years ago that David Hale wore number 20 in the 2015 Grand Final triumph.
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There was a memorable Hawthorn moment 60 years ago, in Round 11 1957, when John Kennedy coached a Hawthorn team for the first time. He did so because regular coach Jack Hale was involved in a serious car accident on the way to the game against Collingwood at Glenferrie. So, while Hale and his wife Jean received treatment at the Alfred Hospital, captain Kennedy stepped into the breach. Kennedy did not secure a first-up win as the Hawks, despite hitting the front in the final term, ended up going down by 19 points. Kennedy was appointed coach in 1960 and in two spells in charge he transformed the club, leading the Hawks to three Premierships in a total of 299 games.
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Luke Breust has become the second fastest player in VFL-AFL history to reach 150 games. Breust made his debut on Sunday 15 May 2011 against St Kilda and reached his 150th last Friday night, six years and 11 days later (missing only four games along the way). The only individual to reach the milestone quicker was North Melbourne’s Wayne Schimmelbusch taking just six years and seven days to get there in the 1970s. Hawthorn also has the fourth fastest player to the milestone with John Platten taking six years and 81 days to reach the 150 mark.
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Hawthorn’s six point win last Friday night continued the club’s excellent recent record in games decided by six points or fewer. Hawthorn has won 12 of the last 15 such matches since late in the 2012 season. This recent run has seen Hawthorn go ahead in the all-time record in these games with 112 wins, 109 losses and ten draws. Hawthorn’s previous win by exactly six points was also in Round 10, back in 1999 against Richmond.
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Away to Port Adelaide is part of the Hawthorn fixture for the ninth consecutive season. Last season was the first time the Hawks managed to beat Port at Adelaide Oval, having suffered defeats in 2014 and 2015. Hawthorn did manage to win its final three games against the Power at Football Park to take the overall record to six wins from 14 matches against Port at that venue, with the highlight undoubtedly being the dramatic three point win in a Semi Final in 2001. Overall, Hawthorn has won 14 of 32 games against Port Adelaide.
Read: Last time we met Port Adelaide
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Hawthorn has a good recent record in Round 11, having won their last seven, a sequence which stretches back to 2008 (with byes in 2013 and 2015). The sequence includes two wins by the appropriate margin of 11 points (MCG victories against Sydney in 2009 and Port Adelaide in 2010). Last season in Round 11 Hawthorn beat Melbourne by 18 points. Despite the recent results, overall Round 11 remains one of Hawthorn’s worst rounds, with the club winning just 37, compared with 51 defeats and two draws from 90 games.
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20 years ago, in Round 11 1997, Hawthorn recorded an upset win against Essendon at the MCG. Hawthorn won 17.22.124 to 13.13.91 with Nick Holland, Daniel Chick and third-gamer Ben Dixon all kicking three goals. Aaron Lord received the three Brownlow votes for an excellent 32-disposal game.
40 years ago, in Round 11 1977, Hawthorn played the same opponent and had the same result, but with a much bigger margin of 106 points – 23.25.163 to 8.9.57. Peter Hudson kicked eight goals, Leigh Matthews five and Shane Murphy four. Matthews was outstanding for as well as the five goals he had 27 kicks and 10 handballs.
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The Round 11 individual goal-kicking record is held by Peter Hudson who kicked 13 goals against South Melbourne at Glenferrie in 1969. Lance Franklin’s eight goals at the MCG in 2011 is the highest tally by a Hawthorn player against Port Adelaide.
