Hawthorn is currently enjoying its longest period on top of the ladder since 1989. The Hawks have been on top now for seven consecutive weeks, from Rounds 12 to 18, the longest run in first place since the team was on top for the last 19 rounds of the 1989 season. The best sequence in the intervening seasons was in 2001 when the Hawks headed the ladder for five Rounds (Rounds 4-8).

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Hawthorn is now moving close to hitting the front in points for and against in all games since joining the League in 1925. The 56 point win against Essendon last Friday night reduced the deficit to 107 - 166,382 for and 166,489 against. This is the lowest the deficit has been since Round 2 1925, when it reached 93. The following week in Round 3 1925 it grew to 110. At the other extreme the deficit blew out to an all-time high of 14,071 after Round 8 1968.

The potential to reach this milestone follows the club getting in front on goals for and against late last season. This measure now shows a healthy surplus of 114 – 23,836 for and 23,722 against.

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This Saturday, Hawthorn will play a home game against Richmond for the first time since Round 6 2008. In the past four seasons, the two teams have only been drawn to play once and in all cases it was a Richmond home game.

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Hawthorn has won 6 of the last 8 matches against Richmond. Oddly, the two losses came in 2008 and 2012 years when Hawthorn went onto play in the Grand Final. In 2008, the upset defeat was in Round 20 (after a win in Round 6) by 29 points, in what proved to be the last loss of Hawthorn’s premiership season. Last season the Tigers thrashed the Hawks by 62 points in Round 9.

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In total, Hawthorn has played Richmond 150 times for 67 wins and 83 losses, the deficit being wholly accounted for by Hawthorn losing the first 21 games between the two clubs from 1925 to 1936. The Hawks’ best sequences of wins against Richmond were 16 (1985-94) and 10 (1959-64).

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40 years ago, in 1973, Hawthorn also played Richmond in Round 19. It was a crucial battle for a Finals position and, with just moments to go, the Hawks were a point in front. However, they were sunk by a late goal from Richmond’s Rex Hunt, going down 12.10.82 to 11.11.77.

Hawthorn had recovered from 16 points down to lead by a goal at the final change but suffered a blow when Peter Crimmins was forced off with concussion in the last quarter. He and Leigh Matthews had both kicked 2 goals, while Matthews headed the list of best players which also included Leon Rice, Kelvin Moore, Don Scott, Norm Bussell and Des Meagher.

Five years later, in 1978, the two teams again clashed in Round 19, but this time the Hawks had a comfortable 57 point win – 18.19.127 to 10.10.70. Matthews was again prominent gathering 30 disposals, although this was exceeded by Norm Goss with 32. Michael Moncrieff kicked 4 goals and Geoff Ablett 3.

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Hawthorn has played 50 Round 19 matches, winning 27 and losing 23. 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 lost its most recent one against Geelong at the MCG last season.

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10 years ago, in Round 19 2003, Hawthorn, wearing heritage jumpers of brown with a gold vee, scored an upset win over 4^th-placed Sydney at the SCG. A Saturday night crowd of 33,473 saw the Hawks set up the win by leading against the wind at quarter time and then adding 6.1 to 2.3 second quarter. Five consecutive goals brought the Swans back into the game before a strong mark and goal by Nick Holland and a crucial interception by Michael Osborne stemmed the flow. The Hawks ran out winners, 17.8.110 to 14.9.93.

Twelve Hawthorn players kicked goals led by Nathan Thompson 3, Brett Johnson 2, Jade Rawlings 2 and Mark Williams 2.  Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell were both playing their 27^th games and already their quality was becoming apparent as Mitchell got the 3 Brownlow votes and Hodge 2. The 1 vote went to captain Shane Crawford, while others in the best players were Peter Everitt, Richie Vandenberg and Nathan Lonie. 

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Jason Dunstall had an amazing season against Richmond in 1992, booting a club record 17 goals in Round 7 and following it up with a further bag of 12 in Round 22.  In his whole career, Dunstall kicked 111 goals against Richmond, behind only his 116 against the Bulldogs. Speaking of Dunstall’s record against the Bulldogs, he holds the individual goal-kicking record for Round 19, setting it in 1996 when he kicked 14 against the Bulldogs at Waverley on a Saturday night.