After winning the opening two games in five out of six seasons between 1982 and 1987, the Hawks have only acheived the successful opening three times since (in 1993, 2001 and 2008). Recent history has shown that, if the Hawks can win the first two, they then get on a roll. As evidenced by winning the first eight games in 2001 and then bettering that with victories in the first nine in 2008.
A memorable game between Hawthorn and Geelong came 30 years ago this week, in Round 2 1982.
Both teams were coming off Round 1 wins, with Geelong the more spectacular having thrashed Collingwood. This, combined with the fact the Cats had finished third compared to the Hawks’ sixth in 1981, meant Geelong were clear favourites.
However, it was Hawthorn who prevailed. After a dominant first half in which they restricted Geelong to just 2.5, the Hawks had to survive a Geelong fightback, which saw the margin cut to just three points early in the last quarter. Hawthorn steadied to win 13.19.97 to 11.12.78, with Leigh Matthews and Terry Wallace both kicking 3 goals. Wallace (33 kicks and 5 handballs) was rated equal best-on-ground with ruckman, Ian Paton (33 hit outs and 10 marks).
The Age reported that “the victory was especially satisfying for Hawthorn”, pointing out that “it was achieved at a time when some people are predicting a rapid decline for the club and against a club (Geelong) which was being touted as joint favourites for the premiership”. Yet, Geelong was unable to respond to the “ferocity” of Hawthorn’s approach.
With the benefit of hindsight, the game is also significant because Hawthorn debuted a young Gary Ablett. It was not a particularly memorable introduction for Ablett, as he managed just six possessions, but he did boot the first of what was to become 1,030 VFL/AFL goals. On the day, older brother Geoff, in his 180th game, had more impact.
The picture accompanying The Age's article is also topical this week. While the main focus is a Gary Buckenara mark, standing at Buckenara’s feet awaiting the crumbs is a small rover wearing no.13. That man was Scott Wade, playing the third of what was just a 12-game Hawthorn career. This week his son Matthew, will make his Test cricket debut for Australia.
And for those readers who like to place their football in a broader historical context, Saturday 3 April, 1982 was also a Victorian State Election day, an election that saw Labor, under John Cain end a 27 year Liberal rule in Victoria. And, to add to the day’s drama, people had awoken to the news that the Falklands War had begun.
Hawthorn has lost its last seven matches against Geelong, the Club’s longest losing sequence against Geelong since the 1960s. From Round 18 1963 to Round 3 1967, the Hawks lost eight consecutive matches against the Cats and, unlike the current sequence, many were by big margins. It is Hawthorn’s longest losing sequence against any club since losing ten in a row to Essendon from 1998 to 2005.
The eight losses to Geelong in the 1960s were part of a longer sequence of eleven games in which Hawthorn did not beat the Cats (before the eight losses there was a draw in Round 7 1963). On the other side of the ledger, Hawthorn’s longest winning run against Geelong is 11, set between 1985 and 1990.
In total, the Hawks and Cats have played 148 times, with Hawthorn winning 67 and Geelong 80, and one draw. At the MCG, the record is 10-4 in Geelong’s favour.
Last Friday night’s team contained four players who have made Hawthorn debuts wearing number 40 - Michael Osborne (2001), Jordan Lewis (2005), Shane Savage (2009) and Broc McCauley (2012).
Broc McCauley became the eighth Queenslander to appear in the brown and gold. Up until 2007, there had only been three - Jason Dunstall, Stephen Lawrence and Michael Osborne. In the past four seasons, however, they have been joined by Brent Renouf (2008), Brendan Whitecross (2009), Rhan Hooper (2010), David Hale (2011) and McCauley. Three of the recent five have been ruckmen from Gold Coast clubs, Southport (Renouf and McCauley) and Broadbeach (Hale).
McCauley is the fourth ex-Brisbane player to make his way to the Hawks, the previous three being Nathan Chapman, John Barker and Rhan Hooper. Former Hawks who have moved north to the Bears or Lions include Ken Judge, Michael McCarthy, Rodney Eade, Rod Lester-Smith, Peter Curran, Robert Dickson, Andrew Gowers and Brad Scott.
Similarly, Jack Gunston is the fourth ex-Adelaide player to become a Hawk, joining Randall Bone, Lance Picioane and Shaun Rehn. Players that headed in the other direction include Matthew Robran, Tony Hall and Darren Jarman.
Gunston will be hoping to match the longevity of some previous wearers of the number 19 jumper. In the 35 years between 1973 and 2007, just three players - Alan Goad, Jason Dunstall and Ben Dixon wore the number. Since Dixon retired, Mitch Thorp and Jarryd Morton have made cameo appearances (both being promoted to the number after debuting in higher numbers). Apart from Goad, Dunstall and Dixon, the only other 100-gamer to wear number 19 was Ted Pool (1926-38).
For Hawks’ fans, one of the most enjoyable of the recent spate of Easter clashes between Hawthorn and Geelong was the upset 52-point win at Kardinia Park in 2006. Interestingly, the Brownlow votes in that game went to then captain Richie Vandenberg (1), and his two successors Sam Mitchell (2) and Luke Hodge (3).
Five years ago, Easter Monday also fell on 9 April, and Hawthorn had a home game against Melbourne at the MCG. Having lost badly to Brisbane at the Gabba in Round 1, the Hawks went in as $2.40 outsiders against a Demon outfit that had also lost in the opening round.
Before an Easter Monday crowd of 43,197, the Hawks trailed by 13 points at quarter time, but then took control of the match taking leads of 13 at half-time, 29 at three quarter time, eventually winning 17.14.116 to 14.10.94.
Incidentally, 16 of the 22 members of that team went on to become Premiership players just 18 months later, while the beaten favourites slumped to 14th in 2007 and finished with the wooden spoon in both 2008 and 2009.
Hawthorn has won only six of its past 20 Round 2 matches - in 1993, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2011. Overall, the round is one of the Club’s poorest - with 35 wins, one draw and 51 losses.
The individual goal-kicking record for a Hawthorn player versus Geelong is 12 by Jason Dunstall in 1990 and 1992, while Wally Culpitt kicked 10 in 1944. Dunstall also holds the Club’s Round 2 record kicking nine goals in 1988 against Richmond and in 1991 against Sydney.
