THE HAWKS will unfurl the 2013 Premiership flag in Round 3 of the 2014 AFL Premiership Season at the MCG against Grand Final opponent Fremantle on Friday 4 April.
With the 2014 home-and-away fixture released on Thursday morning, the Round 3 Grand Final re-match and unfurling of the flag will be the first of seven home games for the Club at the MCG in season 2014 and the first of six Friday night games.
The Round 3 clash follows a twilight season opener for the Club against Brisbane in Tasmania on Saturday March 22 and a blockbuster Round 2 clash against rivals Essendon at Etihad Stadium on a Friday night.
With the Hawks’ first match of season 2014 being held at its home away from home, Tasmania, the Club hopes to gain AFL approval to also unfurl the 2013 Premiership flag at Aurora Stadium.
The now traditional Easter Monday clash between the Hawks and Cats is an away game for the Club and will be held in Round 5 on Monday 21 April.
The Hawks will need to wait until Round 9 to get their first match-up against Lance Franklin, when Hawthorn meets Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday 9 May.
The game in Sydney is one of five interstate trips for the Hawks, who’ll play Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium (Round 4), Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval (Round 10), Adelaide at Adelaide Oval (Round17) and Fremantle at Patersons Stadium (Round 21).
Hawthorn has also been granted its wish to play four home games in Tasmania.
The Club will host Brisbane in Round 1 at Aurora Stadium followed by West Coast in Round 12, Gold Coast in Round 15 and Western Bulldogs in Round 19.
Ben McEvoy, who arrived at the Club via a trade with St Kilda that saw Shane Savage and a first round pick depart, will play his old team only once next year, in Round 7 at the MCG on Saturday 3 May.
Under the AFL’s new fixture rules, teams have been split into three categories based on ladder position and can play a maximum of three matches against teams in the same bracket.
As 2013 Premiers, the Hawks have been given three double-ups against top six teams from 2013, with return bouts against Sydney (Rounds 9 and 18), Fremantle (Rounds 3 and 21) and Geelong (Rounds 5 and 22).
The Hawks have also been fixtured to face Collingwood (Rounds 14 and 23) and Gold Coast (Rounds 4 and 15) twice.
The Club, as per AFL rules also have two scheduled byes in 2014, in Round 9 and between matches against Adelaide and Sydney in July. The Hawks will face the Crows at Adelaide Oval on 11 July before it enjoys a bye the following weekend before hosting Sydney at the MCG on 26 July in Round 18 at the MCG.
Like this year, the Club will have a challenging lead into September with matches against Fremantle, Geelong and Collingwood to close the home-and-away season.
