2014 marks the 25^th Anniversary of the Hawk’s 1988/89 Back-to-Back Premierships. To honour this outstanding achievement The Hawks Museum pays tribute to the Coaches Alan Joyce and Allan Jeans.
 

It was a period of total dominance.  In the late 1980s Hawthorn was king of the VFL/AFL, an irresistible phenomenon taking all before it.  Not only did the Hawks routinely, ruthlessly and systematically crush opposition teams; they broke their spirit.  Such was the Hawks’ psychological edge games were often won before the first bounce.

Hawthorn finished the 1980s playing in seven consecutive day grand finals, winning three pre-season and four day premierships, including the last under the auspices of the VFL.

Six months prior to the start of the 1988 season coach Allan Jeans fell seriously ill and was sidelined for 12 months. Football manager and former player, Alan Joyce was elevated to coach with the agreement that he would coach the team for the 12 months allowing Allan Jeans to resume after he recovered. 

Under Joyce, the Hawks enjoyed a very successful season winning 19 of 22 home and away matches with the 96-point win over Melbourne in the grand final unchallenged as the greatest winning margin.  The team won the pre-season Panasonic Cup and the Dr McClelland Trophy for accumulating the most match points at senior, reserve and under 19 levels.

A fit Jeans returned to the helm in 1989.  After 7 premierships, the club had not won back-to-back flags.  The Joyce lead team of 1988 had offered yet another chance.  The side replicated the previous year’s record of 19 wins with 3 defeats. 

The Hawks were to meet Geelong in the Grand Final in what has been described as one of the greatest premiership deciders.  The Hawks were up by 40 points by quarter time but the Cats fought back and when former Hawk Garry Ablett booted his ninth goal late in the final quarter he closed the gap to 11 points.  With 37 seconds left on the clock, the Cats scored yet another goal to be down by six points.  At the crucial centre bounce DiPierdomenico wrapped Andrew Bews in a bear hug.  Moments later the final siren sounded, Dipper slumped to the ground with broken ribs and a collapsed lung.   The Hawks had hung on to defeat a fast finishing Geelong in a torrid and brutal game with only 15 fit players.  Jeans described the win as the most courageous he had seen.

In his annual report summary, Jeans penned the ultimate tribute to Joyce.  “In 1989, if one person epitomised what Hawthorn is all about that person is without doubt the person I share back-to-back premierships with, Alan Joyce.”

Purchase your back-to-back commemorative guernsey at HawksNest Online or in-store.

Alan Joyce
Played 1961-65
Guernsey 29 (1961), 13 (1962-65)
Games 49
Goals 7
Coach 1988, 1991-93
Games 93
Premierships 1988, 1991
Night Premierships 1991, 1992

Alan Jeans
Coach 1981-87, 1989-90
Games 221
Premierships 1983, 1986, 1989
Night Premierships 1985, 1986
 

The score-line highlights the Hawks total dominance in 1988 and 1989

1988 Panasonic Cup

R1 won 16.9.105   v Brisbane 12.8.80

R2 won 14.9.93     v Collingwood 11.10.76

SF won 15.14.104 v Essendon 9.7.61

GF won 10.10.70   v Geelong 9.13.67

1988 Home & Away

R1 lost 15.21.111 v Carlton 18.18.126

R2 won 26.15.171 v Richmond 12.14.86

R3 won 17.12.114 v Sydney 13.15.93

R4 won 17.18.120 v Fitzroy 15.16.106

R5 won 31.19.205 v Nth Melbourne 19.14.128

R6 won 14.9.93 v Collingwood 13.13.91

R7 lost 13.12.90 v Melbourne 15.21.111

R8 won 17.14.116 v West Coast 9.9.63

R9 won 23.16.154 v Footscray 9.11.65

R10 won 21.11.137 v St Kilda 17.19.121

R11 won 17.16.118 v Essendon 10.8.68

R12 won 10.20.80 v Brisbane 2.5.17

R13 won 17.10.112 v Geelong 12.15.87

R14 won 15.15.105 v Footscray 11.11.77

R15 won 17.12.114 v Brisbane 12.20.92

R16 lost 16.16.112 v Sydney 24.19.163

R17 won 21.11.137 v Melbourne 10.8.68

R18 won 12.16.88 v Essendon 9.8.62

R19 won 27.16.178 v Fitzroy 15.14.104

R20 won 19.14.128 v Geelong 10.8.68

R21 won 18.15.123 v St Kilda 11.12.78

R22 won 28.61.184 v Nth Melbourne 13.11.89

1988 Finals Series

2^ndSemi won 9.12.66 v Carlton 6.9.45

GF won 22.20.152 v Melbourne 6.20.56
 

1989 Panasonic Cup

R1 Bye

R2 lost 13.10.88 v WC Eagles 14.5.89

1989 Home & Away

R1   lost  11.17.83   v Collingwood 13.15.93

R2   won 21.15.141 v Nth Melbourne 11.6.72

R3   won 20.15.135 v Essendon 13.13.91

R4   won 15.20.110 v Richmond 9.12.66

R5   won 18.17.125 v Carlton 10.11.71

R6   won 26.17.171 v Geelong 25.13.163

R7   won 25.15.165 v Fitzroy 13.6.84

R8   won 22.25.157 v Sydney 12.11.83

R9   won 17.15.117 v Footscray 10.13.73

R10 won 16.14.110 v WC Eagles 15.15.105

R11 lost  8.6.54       v Melbourne 10.9.69

R12 won 10.12.72   v St Kilda 8.6.54

R13 won 15.16.106 v Brisbane 4.11.35

R14 won 19.27.141 v WC Eagles 6.14.50

R15 won 22.10.142 v Richmond 15.14.104

R16 won 21.11.137 v Collingwood 11.11.77

R17 won 23.16.154 v Nth Melbourne 9.24.78

R18 won 14.11.95   v Carlton 14.6.90

R19 won 12.15.87   v Melbourne 9.9.63

R20 lost  9.7.61       v Brisbane 21.5.77

R21 won 19.20.134 v Footscray 8.11.59

R22 won 28.13.181 v St Kilda 13.13.91

1989 Finals Series
2^nd Semi won 16.16.112 v Essendon 11.10.76
GF won 21.18.144 v Geelong 21.12.138