THERE have been several previous meetings between Hawthorn and North Melbourne in Round 13.

These games delivered plenty of memorable moments - including a draw in 1926, a mark of the year contender by Peter Knights in 1976 and Michael Tuck’s 300^th game in 1986. 

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Friday night’s 108-point win against Essendon was the 27^th time Hawthorn has won a game by 100 points or more, compared to 19 losses by over 100. It is striking that in Hawthorn’s first 46 seasons in the league, the club did not win a single game by over 100 points and lost 13 matches by that margin. In the past 46 years, Hawthorn has won 27 and lost just six by 100 or more. It is now over a decade since the Hawks last lost by more than 100 points (versus Port Adelaide in Round 13 2005), with 10 victories by 100 points or more coming since then.

It was Hawthorn’s fourth 100-plus point win against Essendon, following earlier wins by 106 (1977), 114 (1987) and 160 (1992). There are two other clubs which the Hawks have beaten four times by over 100 points – Geelong and St Kilda. Others with multiple 100 point losses to Hawthorn are Melbourne (3), Carlton (2), Fitzroy (2) and Western Bulldogs (2),

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The first of Luke Breust’s four goals last Friday night saw him become the 17^th Hawthorn player to kick 250 goals for the club. One more goal will see him join 1970s great John Hendrie on 254. Another current Hawk, Cyril Rioli, should soon join the 250 goals club - as he is currently on 245.

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This week’s game against North is the third and last game the Hawks have been fixtured to play at Docklands in 2016. Having won the previous two against the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, Hawthorn has the chance to have a perfect record at the ground for the fifth time, joining 2002, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Since the start of the 2011 season, Hawthorn has won 15 and lost just two of its 17 games at the venue. The club’s overall record there is 40 wins, 26 losses and one draw. 

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The 170 games Hawthorn has played against North Melbourne is the highest tally Hawthorn has played against any club. In those games, the Hawks have recorded 93 wins, two draws and 75 losses. Ninety years ago, in Round 13 1926, Hawthorn played its first ever draw, finishing level with North Melbourne at 10.10 (70) apiece. The two clubs drew again in 1985.

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Hawthorn and North Melbourne last met in Round 13 in 2008. That was not a happy day for the Hawks as they lost at the MCG by 27 points.

However, ten years prior to that, in Round 13 1998, Hawthorn scored a thrilling two-point win against the Kangaroos at Waverley - 17.12 (114) to 17.10 (112). It was particularly enjoyable, as it was the Hawks only win out of ten games between Rounds 8 and 17 of the 1998 season, and it was also Hawthorn’s only win against North between 1994 and 1999. 

Nick Holland and Aaron Lord each kicked four goals to be among the best players, a list which also included Paul Salmon, Shane Crawford, Brendan Krummel and Richard Taylor.

Memorable moments included Jason Dunstall’s 1250^th career goal, Ben Dixon recovering from a heavy knock to put Hawthorn in front in the final term and a Jonathan Hay smother late in the game to prevent a likely North goal.

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Thirty years ago, in Round 13 1986, Michael Tuck was playing his 300^th game at Princes Park and the Hawks honoured the occasion by unleashing an 8.9 to 1.2 opening term to virtually have North beaten by quarter time. Hawthorn cruised to a 60 point win – 21.26 (152) to 13.14 (92). Best players were Richard Loveridge, John Platten, Terry Wallace, John Kennedy and Rod Lester-Smith.

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Ten years earlier, in Round 13 1976, the two great powerhouses of the mid-seventies met in front of 16,230 fans in the match-of-the-day at Arden Street.

It was a tight, tough encounter in windy conditions with 11 points the biggest margin at any change, but which saw Hawthorn eventually prevail, kicking 10.15 (75) to North’s 9.13 (67). Peter Knights was best-on-ground with eight marks, including a contender for mark of the year which featured in Monday’s newspapers and on the front of the following week’s Football Record.

Another noteworthy performer was first-gamer Don Fletcher who gathered a game-high 20 kicks and booted two goals in an outstanding debut.

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Overall, Hawthorn has played 90 matches in Round 13 for 41 wins, 48 defeats and one draw. The Hawks have won their past five Round 13 games, beating Essendon (2010), Gold Coast (2011), West Coast (2013), Carlton (2014) and Essendon again last season, with a bye in 2012.

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One of the most memorable Round 13 matches in Hawthorn history came 70 years ago, in Round 13 1946. The Hawks played Geelong at Glenferrie and when the Hawks trailed 1.0 to 6.8 at quarter-time the game seemed over. Even at three quarter time, the margin was still 21 points, but the Hawks then produced a stunning 9.6 to 1.2 final term to win 15.22 (112) to 11.15 (81). Alec Albiston kicked seven goals.

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The Round 13 individual goal-kicking record for Hawthorn is nine, held jointly by Peter Hudson (1971) and Dunstall (1988) followed by bags of eight from Peter Knights (1972), Mike Moncrieff (1980) and Simon Minton-Connell (1995). The 13 goals Lance Franklin kicked against North Melbourne in 2012 set a new record for Hawthorn against the Kangaroos, breaking the previous high of 10 kicked jointly by Alec Albiston (1940) and Jason Dunstall (1988).