Hawthorn’s current percentage of 157.0 is the second highest the club has ever had after Round 16.

The only higher was in 1971 and it was higher by just 0.1 per cent, being 157.1.  Other big Hawthorn percentages after 16 rounds were 152.4 (1989) and 149.7 (1975).

This week’s game against Collingwood will be played almost a quarter century to the day after Hawthorn’s biggest ever win against the Magpies.  On 18 July 1987, the Hawks travelled to Victoria Park and proceeded to thrash the Leigh Matthews-coached Magpies by 125 points - 25.18.168 to 5.13.43.  Jason Dunstall kicked six goals and Gary Buckenara five, while Richard Loveridge had 40 disposals, Peter Schwab 32, Buckenara 31 and John Kennedy 30.  However, it was Ray Jencke who got the three Brownlow votes.

Hawthorn has won its last six games by margins of 115, 46, 65, 50, 162 and 72 putting it in 

equal second place on the list of consecutive games won by 40 points or more in VFL-AFL history.  The record is seven set by South Melbourne in 1934, while others with six include Geelong (1952), Essendon (1985-86) and Geelong (1989)*.

*Thanks to Michael Rogers, Bruce Kennedy and the Footystats website for this information.

Hawthorn has kept its opponents to scores below 50 points in consecutive games for the first time in 29 years.  In the past two rounds, Hawthorn has restricted GWS to 4.7.31 and Western Bulldogs to 6.8.44.  Back in Round 2 1983, Sydney managed only 5.15.45 against the Hawks, while the following week, St Kilda scored just 6.6.42.  

The news of Cameron Bruce’s retirement through injury sums up the fate of the wearers of number 17 in the past decade.  Having rarely missed a game in the careers of Michael Tuck (1972-91), Paul Hudson (1992-96) and Daniel Chick (1997-2002), the number has managed just 42 games in the past ten seasons, made up of Luke Brennan (19), Beau Muston (13) and Bruce (10). 

The 50th Hawthorn games of Josh Gibson and Ryan Schoenmakers on Sunday have brought to five the number of Hawks with post 2008 Premiership debuts to reach the 50 games milestone.  Hawthorn has played 85 games since the start of the 2009 season and of the post 2008 debutants, Brendan Whitecross has played the most games (64), followed by Liam Shiels (55) and Shaun Burgoyne (54).  Others getting close to the milestone are Matthew Suckling (44) and Ben Stratton (42).

Ralph Taylor, who was the oldest living Hawthorn player, died last month at the age of 97.

Taylor came to Hawthorn from Kew United Churches and played two games as a 22 year old in Rounds 14 and 15 1937.  Unusually, for a two game player in the first 30 years of Hawthorn’s League history he played his entire career in winning sides.  He debuted in a win against Fitzroy at Glenferrie and after his second game, a victory over Essendon at Windy Hill, The Sun commented that he “gave every indication that he would make a good defender”.  The same report claimed that “he marked well and showed good judgment in turning”.

Taylor was born on 6 March 1915 and his death means that the title of oldest living Hawthorn player passes to Ken Feltscheer and Phil Ryan, both of whom were born on 9 June 1915.

This Saturday Luke Hodge will miss his 14th game for the season.  He joins a number of recent Hawthorn captains who have missed more than a half a season, including Richie Vandenberg who missed 16 games in 2007, Shane Crawford 12 in 2004 and Jason Dunstall 14 in 1997.

Last Sunday was Hawthorn’s fourth consecutive win against the Bulldogs, the best winning sequence against the Bulldogs since one of five against them in the late 1980s.

In the 36 years prior to the Hawks’ inaugural premiership year, 1961, they had only beaten Collingwood four times in 61 games and could only look enviously at Collingwood’s 13 Premierships.  From 1961 onwards, the boot has been on the other foot, with the Hawks holding a 53 to 39 advantage in the head-to-head, and also having won ten Premierships to the Magpies two in the last five decades.  This means that currently, after 152 games, Hawthorn has won 57 and Collingwood 96.  Hawthorn’s longest winning sequence against Collingwood is seven which was achieved between 1985 and 1988.

40 years ago, in Round 17 1972 Hawthorn also was facing a crucial game against Collingwood and, as now the Hawks went into the match in fourth position.  However, it was the fifth placed Magpies who triumphed, setting up the win by racing to a 30 point quarter time lead.  Despite fielding 17 of their 1971 Premiership team, Hawthorn lost by 45 points - 11.16.82 to 19.13.127.  The only multiple goal-kickers were Peter Knights third and Leigh Matthews two.

In the past 18 seasons, Hawthorn has won just two Round 17 matches - in 2001 and 2005, both against Carlton although 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.  Given that record it is not surprising that Round 17 is the worst for Hawthorn overall.  

In 84 matches in Round 17, Hawthorn has won only 31 and lost 52 (with the one draw).

The dreadful record particularly applies in years ending in 2.  In Round 17 1932 Hawthorn lost to South Melbourne by 123 points; in 1952 to Fitzroy by 32; in 1962 to Fitzroy by 8; in 1972 to Collingwood by 45; in 1982 to Fitzroy by 47; in 1992 to Carlton by 12; and in 2002 to Brisbane Lions by 56.  Perhaps fortunately, in 1942 there was no Round17 with the season being restricted to 16 rounds due to the Second World War.

Jason Dunstall holds the Hawthorn record for most goals in a game versus Collingwood, having booted 11 in both the 1989 and 1990 seasons.  Next best was Michael Moncrieff’s 10 in 1976.  Peter Hudson has kicked the most goals in Round 17, a tally of 10 recorded against St Kilda, at Waverley, in 1977.