Taylor Duryea’s debut against Collingwood meant a rare appearance for the number 41 for Hawthorn.

In the past five decades, number 41 has only been worn by Glen Harrison in his 10 game career (1975-76) and by three players in their first seasons – Darrin Pritchard (16 games, 1987), Richard Taylor (2 games, 1992) and Tom Murphy (1 game, 2005) – who graduated to other numbers.

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Duryea has also joined a select group of Hawthorn players to debut in their fourth season after being drafted. Duryea was taken with pick 69 in the 2009 National Draft and spent the next three seasons playing exclusively for Box Hill. Other players who did not debut until the fourth season have been Matthew Young (1994), David Loats (2002) and Beu Muston (2009).

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David O’Halloran, who passed away last Thursday at the age of just 57, was a magnificent Hawthorn player and a magnificent Hawthorn person.

Wearing the number 8 jumper previously worn by Kevin Heath, he debuted in Round 1 1976 and played 74 consecutive games (including the 1976 Premiership) before he was injured in the 1978 Second Semi Final, an injury which meant he missed out on playing in the 1978 Premiership. Oddly, his fate of 1978, when he played every game bar the Grand Final, was reversed in 1985 when the only game he played for the season was the Grand Final, which proved to be his final game.

O’Halloran was a tremendous defender, always seeming to know when to mark or when to punch, and when he had the ball he was a penetrating left-foot kick. In his 160 game career he kicked 19 goals. Once, in a late season game against Melbourne at a wet Waverley in 1979, the Hawks trailed by 33 points at quarter time. However, ‘Rubber’, playing at full-forward in the absence of regular goal-kickers like Michael Moncrieff and Leigh Matthews, kicked 4 goals straight (while after quarter time Melbourne managed 2.20) and was thus a vital contributor to a 22 point win. Perhaps his best-remembered goal came when he slipped forward to kick one in the last quarter of the 1983 Grand Final win against Essendon. He will be sadly missed.

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On Saturday, Hawthorn commences its 13^th season of playing home games at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. There was just a solitary game in 2001, two per season from 2002 to 2005, three in 2006 and four every season from 2007 onwards. In total, the Hawks have played 36 matches at the ground for 25 wins and 11 losses, including wins in 10 of the past 11 games there. Hawthorn’s two highest scores at the venue (174 and 159) came in its two most recent appearances there.

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Hawthorn has a perfect record against Fremantle at Aurora Stadium winning six out of six. The two teams most recent meeting there was in Round 8 last season, a game which saw the Hawks run out comfortable winners – 17.17.119 to 9.9.63. Clinton Young received 3 Brownlow votes for his 25 disposals, 12 marks and 1 goal performance in his 100^th game for the club. At all venues, the Hawks have won six of their last seven against the Dockers, the only blemish being the 30 point loss in the 2010 Elimination Final at Subiaco, and overall hold a commanding 19 to 7 advantage in the head-to-head between the two clubs.

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5 years ago, in Round 4 2008, both Chance Bateman and Campbell Brown played their 100^th games for Hawthorn against Adelaide at Aurora Stadium. Bateman was outstanding gathering 30 possessions, kicking a goal and receiving 3 Brownlow votes, as the Hawks maintained their unbeaten record with a 44 point win.

10 years ago, in Round 4 2003, after an even first half, Hawthorn kicked 11 goals to 3 to beat Sydney by 42 points. Peter Everitt, Jade Rawlings and Jade Rawlings were among the Hawks’ best.

25 years ago, in Round 4 1988, Hawthorn won an entertaining game against Fitzroy at Princes Park by 14 points – 17.18.120 to 15.16.106. Tony Hall continued his stellar debut season form with a 32 disposal game.

Both 30 and 50 years ago, Hawthorn kicked 25 behinds. In 1983 this proved extremely costly as Hawthorn 12.25.97 lost to Footscray 17.16.118 at Princes Park. In 1963 it was a sign of a dominant side as the Hawks 21.25.151 thrashed North Melbourne 11.14.80 with John Peck kicking 7 goals.

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In Round 4, Hawthorn has won 37, lost 48, played two draws (1939 and 1996) and had one bye (1991). Hawthorn took longer to win in Round 4 than in any other round. It was not until 1941 that the club tasted success after 15 losses and one draw. The Hawks best Round 4 sequence was eight consecutive wins from 1974 to 1981.

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The most goals by a Hawthorn player against Fremantle is the tally of 8 by Mark Williams in Round 1 2006, in Launceston. The record for Round 4 is the 9 goals booted by Michael Moncrieff at Waverley Park against South Melbourne in 1979.