Hawthorn has used nine new players so far in 2014, the most in a season since 2005. 

Just two of the Club’s debutants, Ben McEvoy and Ben Ross, had previously played for other League clubs meaning Hawthorn has handed out seven AFL debuts which equals the number in 2009.

If there are any more players who make their debut this season, 2014 will become just the fourth season in the past four decades to see the number of debutants reach double figures joining 1978 and 2005 (when there were 11), and 1998 (10).

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Hawthorn goes into this week’s game with a narrow lead over the Western Bulldogs on the head-to-head history, 78-75, with 2 draws, having hit the front with wins in the 5 most recent encounters. 

The close head-to-head record is remarkable when, in premierships, the Hawks lead 11-1, and are ahead 17-2 in grand final appearances. 

It is explained by the fact that while both teams struggled in their early years after joining the League, Footscray were significantly better than Hawthorn. Then, in the 1970s and 1980s when the Hawks were strong, an upset loss to the Bulldogs was always on the cards.

In the seven seasons from 2004 to 2010 the Bulldogs won 7 of the 11 meetings between the two clubs, in each case the first (or only) match between of those seven seasons. The four times the clubs met for a second time in the season the Hawks were victorious. The trend ended in 2011 when the Hawks won both encounters and followed up with wins in the solitary meetings in 2012 and last season.

The two clubs have met twice before at Aurora Stadium both in seasons when Hawthorn went on to win the Premiership. In Round 10 2008 the Bulldogs inflicted the Hawks’ first loss of the season by 32 points but last season the Hawks were victorious by 19 points in Round 17.

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In the past two decades Hawthorn have had two very satisfying Round 19 wins against the Bulldogs in difficult circumstances.

10 years ago, in Round 19 2004, Hawthorn broke a run of 10 consecutive losses with a win against the Bulldogs at Docklands – 19.6.120 to 16.13.109. It was the second game in charge for interim coach Donald McDonald who had taken over from Peter Schwab. 

Hawthorn had 12 individual goalkickers headed by Simon Beaumont and Mark Williams with 3 each and in a sign that the Hawks future was not as bleak as much of the 2004 season had indicated two youngsters, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell, received Brownlow votes.

Eight years earlier, in Round 19 1996, the Hawks were making a late charge towards the Finals but the club was engulfed in the merger controversy. In this game Hawthorn had just 6 individual goalkickers but one of them, Jason Dunstall, kicked 14, as Hawthorn won 20.12.132 to 10.5.65. Other good players included Paul Salmon who took 12 marks and Richard Taylor who gathered 27 possessions.

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Hawthorn has played 51 Round 19 matches, winning 27 and losing 24. There was a Round 19 played from 1945 to 1949 (to make up for games missed during the War) and again in 1952 (to compensate for the ‘propaganda round’). However, it did not become a permanent fixture until 1968, and Hawthorn has played every year since except 1991 when it had a bye. The Hawks won their first Round 19 game in 1945, defeating North Melbourne by 7 points at Glenferrie, but has lost its most recent one against Geelong in 2012 and Richmond last season

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40 years ago, In Round 19 1974, Hawthorn scored a comfortable 25 point win against Melbourne at Princes Park – 17.20.122 to 14.13.97. Hawthorn had ten individual goalkickers headed by Michael Moncrieff with 4, while good players included John Hendrie, Brian Douge, Michael Tuck, Leigh Matthews, Peter Knights and Alan Goad.

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Jason Dunstall’s set the individual goal-kicking record of 14 both against the Bulldogs and in Round 19 record in the same 1996 game described above.