Hawthorn takes a lengthy winning sequence against Fremantle and an even longer run of wins in Round 21 into this week’s game in Perth.

The Hawks have won their last six against Fremantle, equaling the record winning sequence of six recorded from 1998 to 2001. 

Overall, the Hawks hold a commanding 22 to seven advantage in the head-to-head between the two clubs. 

At Subiaco against the Dockers, Hawthorn has won three of its last four encounters, with the only blemish being the 2010 Elimination Final.

The Hawks have won their last eight games in Round 21, beating North Melbourne (2006), Western Bulldogs (2007), West Coast (2008), Richmond (2009), Fremantle (2010), Port Adelaide (2011), Gold Coast (2012) and Collingwood (2013). The margins in these 8 games have been healthy too, being 22, 84, 71, 42, 116, 165, 64 and 35.

The recent good results have confirmed a historic trend. Since it was first contested in 1970, Round 21 has been one of the best rounds for Hawthorn, with 32 wins and only 12 defeats, including victories in 13 consecutive Round 21 matches between 1982 and 1994.

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As well as maintaining his outstanding form, Jordan Lewis is currently moving past some of the all-time greats on the games played list. Saturday’s game against Melbourne was his 211^th, which means he has equaled David Parkin and Darrin Pritchard. 

This week he will move past them and join Andrew Collins on 212, before in his next game joining John Peck on 213.

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Matt Suckling is on track to become only the third individual in Hawthorn history to play every game in two seasons separated by a complete season or seasons without playing at all. Suckling played all 25 games in 2012 before injuring his knee in the 2013 pre-season. He was back by Round 1 this season and has thus so far played every game.

The only two previous examples both missed three consecutive seasons between seasons when they played every game. During the Second World War Jack Blackman played every game in 1940 and 1944 but missed 1941-43. Two decades later, Allan Woodley played every game in 1959 and 1963 but spent the intervening three years studying osteopathy in London.

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10 years ago, in Round 21 2004, Hawthorn gave itself a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon by defeating Richmond by 23 points. The Hawks went into the game in last position on the ladder a game and 0.9 per cent behind the second last placed Tigers.

A crowd of 27,007 at the MCG saw Hawthorn begin with a 7.4 to 3.3 opening quarter and managed to generally keep the margin around four goals for the duration of the game. Peter Everitt was outstanding in the ruck with 42 hitouts, 20 disposals and 3 goals as Hawthorn ran out winners 16.13.109 to 13.8.86.

The win meant Hawthorn joined Richmond on 16 points on the ladder and now ahead by 0.9 per cent. The following week in Round 22 both teams suffered heavy defeats and Hawthorn avoided the wooden spoon by 1.0 per cent.

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10 years earlier, in Round 21 1994, Hawthorn also played Richmond. The only Hawks to appear in both games were Shane Crawford and Mark Graham.

With Richmond 4^th and Hawthorn 7^th a healthy MCG crowd of 52,562 saw Hawthorn win largely because of more accurate goalkicking. The final score was 18.9.117 to 11.23.89, a very similar scoreline to the 2008 Grand Final. Jason Dunstall and Paul Hudson both booted 4 goals, while good players included Chris Langford, Stephen Lawrence, Anthony Condon and John Platten.

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30 years ago, in Round 21 1984, 2^nd-placed Hawthorn played 4^th placed Collingwood at Princes Park and ran out 15 points winners. What made the win more meritorious was that the Hawks were missing Leigh Matthews, Peter Knights, Michael Tuck, Gary Ayres, Gary Buckenara and Rodney Eade, and then in the opening minutes of the game John Kennedy broke his leg.

The day was a big one for Kelvin Moore as he celebrated his 300^th game, although the subsequent adjustment to not count State games on days when clubs games were played means it is now regarded as his 299^th. It was also a momentous occasion for young forward Shane McGrath who was a late inclusion when Eade pulled out. In what ended up being the only game of his career he had 3 kicks which produced 1.1, but he also set up a goal for Robert Dipierdomenico with a clever flick on near the edge of the goal square.

Dipierdomenico was one of the Hawks best players ably assisted by the likes of Ken Judge (6 goals), Colin Robertson, Russell Greene and Terry Wallace. The other star was Michael Byrne whom The Age described as “unbeatable in the air and on the ground” in the decisive third quarter.

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The big guns, Peter Hudson and Jason Dunstall, share Hawthorn’s Round 21 individual goal-kicking record, with Hudson kicking 9 in 1970 and 1971 and Dunstall the same tally in 1986 and 1989. The most goals by a Hawthorn player against Fremantle is the tally of 8 by Mark Williams in Round 1 2006, at Aurora Stadium.