He will be just the 5th to do so as captain, following in the footsteps of Graham Arthur (1966), Don Scott (1976 - in the Grand Final), Jason Dunstall (1994 - acting captain) and Shane Crawford (2002).
Several other 200 gamers had already completed spells as captain when they reached 200 games (e.g. Peck, Parkin and Mitchell), while others subsequently became captain (e.g. Matthews, Tuck and Ayres).
This Sunday, Hawthorn has the chance to extend its current record sequence of three wins in a row against Port Adelaide.
The sequence began with a 32 point win at Football Park in Round 7 last season; was followed with handing out a 165 point thrashing at the MCG in Round 21; and continued with a 46 point success at Football Park this season. Before the current run of wins, the most consecutive wins against Port were two in 2000.
The Hawks are gradually improving what had been an overall poor record against the Power. It now stands at 10 wins and 15 defeats from 25 games.
The Hawks will also be hoping to square the ledger against Port Adelaide at Aurora Stadium. The two teams have met on three previous occasions in Launceston with the Power winning the first two encounters in 2002 and 2007, with the Hawks finally breaking the ice in 2008.
The 2007 clash was five years ago this round and resulted in a heartbreaking 5 point loss, after the Hawks led by 16 points at the final change. Ben Dixon, in game number 199, kicked 3 goals, as did Jarryd Roughead, while the leading disposal getters were Chance Bateman and Clinton Young who both had 25. Young was the sole Hawthorn player to secure Brownlow votes (he got 2).
Hawthorn has lost its last five games decided by 6 points or fewer. The Hawks last won a close game in Round 22 2010 against Collingwood, but since then have lost to Geelong three times, Collingwood once and West Coast once in the close ones.
After the 2010 Collingwood win, Hawthorn had reduced the deficit in games decided by 6 points or fewer to just one (100 to 101) which was a big improvement on the deficit of 15 which was in place at the end of 1982 (58 to 73). Now the deficit has blown back out to six.
If Hawthorn had won last Friday night, it would have been the equal ninth biggest comeback victory in VFL-AFL history. It would also have given Hawthorn a third entry in the comebacks top ten, as the club already has the second biggest winning comeback of all time (overturning a 63 point deficit against St Kilda at Waverley in 1999) and the fourth biggest (coming from 56 points behind Geelong at Princes Park in 1989). In terms of quarter time deficits, the margin of 45 would have been the equal 11th biggest overcome.
One game somewhat analogous with last Friday was Hawthorn’s last game at Moorabbin in Round 4 1992. In that game the Hawks trailed the Saints 0.3 to 8.3 at quarter time, but in the last quarter got back within a kick before losing by 10 points. In both games, Hawthorn made up significant ground in the second quarter, narrowly lost the third term and then made a final surge.
10 years ago, in Round 20 2002, Hawthorn’s Finals’ hopes took a massive dive when it suffered a shock loss to 14th placed Richmond. Trailing by 33 points at three quarter time, the Hawks rallied in the final term but it was too late going down by 14 points - 13.15.93 to 16.11.107. Angelo Lekkas (30) and Nick Ries (27) were the leading possession getters.
20 years ago, in Round 20 1992, Hawthorn recorded one of its biggest ever wins, thrashing Essendon by 160 points at the MCG. This remained the club record winning margin until last season and the score of 32.24.216 remains the third highest in club history.
Jason Dunstall kicked 12 goals, but only got 2 Brownlow votes, as the 3 votes went to Tony Hall who had 34 disposals and kicked 3 goals.
30 years ago, in Round 20 1982, Hawthorn thrashed Finals’ aspirant Sydney by 64 points at Princes Park. After a reasonably even first half, the Hawks powered away after half-time. Leigh Matthews, Geoff Ablett and John Kennedy each kicked 3 goals, while Terry Wallace and Michael Tuck starred.
40 years ago, in Round 20 1972, Hawthorn also recorded a good win against Essendon. Hawthorn won 15.16.106 to 12.15.87, setting up the win with a 6.5 to 0.5 opening term with the standout performer being Michael Moncrieff who kicked 10 goals on his 20th birthday in just his 16th game. It culminated a three week period in which he kicked 24 goals. Peter Crimmins chipped in with 3 goals.
There was a Round 20 played in 1945 and there has been one every year since 1968. In 1945, 1968 and 1969 it was the final round of the home and away season.
In 1945, the Hawks played eventual Grand Finalists, South Melbourne, at their temporary war-time home ground of the Junction Oval, losing by 36 points. Hawthorn recorded wins in both 1968 and 1969, against Fitzroy and St Kilda respectively, with Peter Hudson booting 8 goals in each game, to finish with 125 and 120 for the seasons.
Overall in Round 20, Hawthorn has won 25 and lost 20. The Hawks had a pair of Round 20 wins versus Essendon in 2005 and 2006, and then after three consecutive losses, returned to the Round 20 winners’ circle with a 21 point victory over Melbourne in 2010 and followed up with a win against North Melbourne last season.
Sad news in recent days for those interested in Hawthorn history and statistics with the news coming through from Adelaide of the death of long-time Hawks fan and statistical wizard, Lester Daniels at the age of just 57. For many years, Lester compiled detailed statistical summaries of Hawthorn seasons, which he sent through to the club. He also provided many useful items to this column and contributed information on those who played in South Australia for Gold n’ Brown Jubilee: The Story of the 61 Hawks. He will be sadly missed.
Before last year no Hawthorn player had got more than 6 goals against Port Adelaide, that tally being achieved by Aaron Lord in the first game between the two clubs in 1997, by Trent Croad in 2000 and by Lance Franklin in 2008. Franklin then kicked 8 in Round 21, 2011 while Cyril Rioli joined the list with 6 in the same game.
The Round 20 Hawthorn record is also held by Dunstall who kicked 12 against Essendon in 1992 (see above). Other 10 goal-plus Round 20 hauls were Dunstall’s 11 versus Collingwood in 1990 and Michael Moncrieff’s 10 against Essendon in 1972.
