If history is a guide, the fact that Hawthorn lost its first game at Adelaide Oval earlier this season almost guarantees victory in the second this Friday night.

Since the Hawks began playing at non-Victorian grounds, they have often lost their opening game at a new venue but have never lost their first two games at any interstate venue. To date, Hawthorn has lost its first game, but then won its second, at five interstate grounds - the Gabba, Subiaco (Patersons Stadium), the WACA Ground, Football Park (AAMI Stadium) and Stadium Australia (ANZ Stadium). Let’s hope the Adelaide Oval joins that list this week.

***********

The previous Adelaide venue, Football Park, joined the above list when the Hawks made up for the thumping defeat against the Crows on opening night in Round 1 1991 with a gutsy win in Round 6 1993.

The Hawks travelled to Adelaide for a Friday night encounter determined not just to make up for the defeat two seasons earlier, but also to keep intact a proud 12 year record of not losing three consecutive games. Playing in front of a packed crowd of 46,689, Hawthorn trailed by 15 points at quarter time and conceded the first goal of the second term, but then produced a stunning 8.0 in the remainder of the quarter to lead by 18 points at half-time. The Hawks maintained their lead in the second half to win 16.9.105 to 12.16.88.

Jasom Dunstall finished with 9 goals, although Paul Hudson probably kicked the goal of the night. The best players included Dunstall, Darren Jarman, Ben Allan and Paul Cooper, while captain Gary Ayres produced a couple of pieces of his classic “good driving in heavy traffic”.

***********

Success against Adelaide at Football Park remained extremely rare for Hawthorn, with just four wins (1993, 1994, 2008 and 2013), balanced against 11 defeats. Perhaps, it is fortunate that “away to Adelaide” was not on Hawthorn’s fixture in eight other seasons. 

Of the 10 defeats, only the 2-point loss in 1995 was close. After that, the next narrowest margin was 20 points in 2011, while at the other extreme the 86-point losing margin of 1991 was repeated in 2000.

***********

Remarkably, one of Hawthorn’s three wins against Adelaide at Football Park was by a bigger margin than any of the 11 defeats. It was in Round 9 1994 that the Hawks obliterated the Crows by 97 points – 22.13.145 to 7.6.48. 

The victory was built on amazing first and third quarters, in both of which Adelaide failed to score, while the Hawks kicked 8.1 and 8.5 respectively. The stars were Jason Dunstall who kicked 5 in the opening term on his way to 9 and John Platten who kicked a career-high 6 goals.

In contrast, the 2008 game was close all night, with the Hawks trailing by 1, 2, and 3 points at the breaks, before turning it around in the final term, to win 11.10.76 to 10.12.72. Luke Hodge kicked the winning goal and was rated second best for the Hawks behind then captain, Sam Mitchell. 

Last year’s win was again close, being by just 11 points, with the same duo, Hodge and Mitchell, again leading the way with 29 disposals each.

Given the away record, it is fortunate that in 16 home games against Adelaide, the Hawks hold a 10-6 advantage and lead 2-1 in Finals, making the overall record 16-18 after 34 games, with a current winning sequence of 3.

***********

In the past 20 seasons, Hawthorn has won just five Round 17 matches – in 1993, 2001, 2005, 2012 and last season. However, the Hawks have not actually lost in the round since 2009 having had a draw against St Kilda in 2010 and a bye in 2011, before a 2012 victory against Collingwood and last season’s win against the Western Bulldogs. 

Given that record it is not surprising that Round 17 is the worst for Hawthorn overall. In 86 matches in Round 17, Hawthorn has won only 33 and lost 52 (with the one draw), making a deficit of 19, the biggest for any round.

***********

40 years ago, in Round 17 1974, a crowd of just 6,418 saw a most inaccurate Hawthorn prevail against Fitzroy at Princes Park. The Hawks won 13.28.106 to the Lions 8.10.58. Leigh Matthews played an excellent game, but was a bit off-target kicking 3.8.

50 years ago, in Round 17 1964, Hawthorn suffered one of its most crucial defats ever in a home and away game. Hawthorn was in 4^th place, but just a game behind League leaders Melbourne when the two clashed at Glenferrie. The Hawks had opened up a 16 point lead at three quarter time, but a late goal from the boundary by Hassa Mann saw the Demons snatch a 4 point win. Hawthorn’s 10 goals were scored by just 3 players, as John Peck booted 6 and Kevin Connell and Des Dickson 2 each. 

***********

Jason Dunstall kicked 9 goals on three separate occasions against Adelaide – in 1993 and 1994 (both at Football Park) and in 1996 (at Waverley). Peter Hudson has kicked the most goals in Round 17, a tally of 10 recorded against St Kilda, at Waverley, in 1977.