There is a strong argument to say that Tom Mitchell has made the best ever start to a Hawthorn career of any player in the club’s history. Mitchell has had over 30 disposals in six of his seven games, with a very respectable 27 in the other one.
Another claimant to the title is Tony Hall who, in 1988, accumulated 11 Brownlow votes in his first seven games after joining Hawthorn from Glenelg. He topped 30 possession three times in his first seven games.
Like a number of other prize Hawthorn recruits, Paul Salmon came into his own later in his debut season in brown and gold. After debuting in Round 4 1996, Salmon did not get any Brownlow votes in his first eight games, but then received 18 votes in his remaining ten games of the season. Another similar case was John Platten who received two Brownlow votes on debut in Round 1 1986, but had to wait until Round 12 to be recognized again, before accumulating 12 votes in the second half of the season.
Prior to stats being recorded it is harder to judge historic performances. We do know that club legend Graham Arthur began very strongly in his debut season of 1955 with his second game seeing him awarded best-on-the ground honours, as he propelled the Hawks to an upset win over Carlton. There were reports in the press that Arthur was the best first year player in the League since the war, and suggestions that Hawks coach Jack Hale believed he was the best recruit he had ever seen.
However, perhaps the strongest challenger to Mitchell for the crown of best first seven Hawthorn games, can be found 83 years ago. When Jack Green came across to Glenferrie from Carlton for the 1934 season, he proceeded to kick 35 goals in the first seven games, with four goals or more in six of the seven games. Like Mitchell, Green had to do it the hard way with Hawthorn struggling for wins. In Green’s case, there was just one win in the opening seven matches. He went on to kick 80 goals in the 18 game season.
Perhaps surprisingly Green did not win the best and fairest in 1934, but a number of players have won the club best and fairest in their first season at Hawthorn. These include John Kennedy Snr., Arthur, Ray Wilson and Salmon. If Mitchell continues his current level of sustained excellence he could well join this select list by the end of the 2017 season.
Read: Who's Hawthorn's efficiency king?
***********
Hawthorn’s three point win last Sunday continued the club’s excellent recent record in games decided by six points or fewer. Hawthorn has won 11 of the last 14 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 111 wins, 109 losses and ten draws.
However, in close games against Melbourne, Hawthorn remains in deficit, having only beating the Demons five times by six points or fewer, compared to 14 defeats. However, the five wins include two of the most memorable victories in Hawthorn history – the two point victory in the 1987 Preliminary Final and the one point triumph in the ‘merger match’ in 1996.
Read: Talking points from Hawthorn v Melbourne
***********
The scheduling of this round’s clash against Brisbane Lions at the University of Tasmania Stadium means that eight of the last ten clashes between the two clubs will have been played at the venue. The only exceptions since 2008 have been a home game at the MCG in 2012 and a trip to the Gabba last season.
Hawthorn has won 29 and lost 16 of its games against Brisbane, including wins in the last seven encounters. The current winning sequence began in Launceston in Round 16 2010 with a 75 point thumping – 17.16.118 to 7.1.43 – with Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Shaun Burgoyne starring. Burgoyne had made a modest start to his Hawthorn career but now in his ninth game for the club he produced an outstanding 30 disposal game.
***********
Last season’s Round 8 win against Fremantle put Hawthorn’s Round 8 record into positive territory with 46 wins and 45 defeats (with a bye in 1992). The Hawks won seven Round 8 games in succession from 2007 to 2013, before losing to Sydney in both 2014 and 2015.
However, some of the recent Round 8 wins have not come without a struggle. Twice the Hawks have been 32 points behind at quarter time but recovered, beating Port Adelaide by 15 points in 2008 and St Kilda by 30 points in 2011. Then there was Round 8 2010 when a Sam Mitchell tackle in the dying seconds secured a season-saving three point victory against Richmond.
***********
Five years ago, in Round 8 2012, Hawthorn began what ended up being a run of 19 consecutive Launceston wins with a 56 point win against Fremantle – 17.17.119 to 9.9.63. The best players included Brad Sewell, Liam Shiels, Luke Breust, Jarryd Roughead, Clinton Young and Jordan Lewis.
Ten years ago, in Round 8 2007, Hawthorn ground out a low-scoring win against St Kilda – 10.12.72 to 6.8.44. Sam Mitchell was outstanding with 35 disposals.
Thirty years ago, in Round 8 1987, Hawthorn bounced back from a loss in Sydney the previous weekend to record a comfortable win against Geelong – 17.10.112 to 10.5.65. Jason Dunstall kicked seven goals and Dermott Brereton six.
Read: The day Dunstall kicked 17
***********
Peter Hudson holds the Round 8 Hawthorn goalkicking record, with 13 goals against South Melbourne at Glenferrie in 1970. Jason Dunstall holds the club individual goal-kicking record against Brisbane, a mark he set when he booted 11 against the Bears in the first ever match between the two clubs at Carrara in 1987.
