The Hawks Museum is proud to announce the publication of its first book Mud, Muscle and Blood the Story of the 1957 Hawks written and compiled by Richard Allsop and Peter Haby.

The book will be available from Thursday 20 November and can be purchased from the Hawks Museum at the price of $30, for mail orders add $10.

For enquires contact the Hawks Museum
Mail: PO Box 3149, Mount Waverley, Vic 3149
Phone: 9535 3075
Email: hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au

1957 was a crucial turning point in the history for the Hawthorn Football Club.  Since joining the VFL in 1925, it took 32 seasons for the Hawks first Finals appearance.

Hawthorn has since become the only Club to have won ten Premierships in the last 50 years.

Mud, Muscle and Blood captures all the ebbs and flows of the 1957 season.  Read the story of how the “Blonde Bomber” inspired a come-from-behind win at Windy Hill, how coach Jack Hale missed a game when involved in a serious car accident on the way to the ground, and the excitement of the day when a packed Glenferrie saw the Hawks clinch a position in the Finals.

Discover details of the Club’s first Final, a victory over Carlton on a day made more memorable by a massive half-time hail storm.

Learn about the 36 players who represented the brown and gold in 1957. From one-gamers to the legends of the game, and several key officials, all of which contributed to the transformation from the winless Hawks of 1950 to the Premiers of 1961. 

The book is richly illustrated with photos and press clippings that capture the flavour of football in the 1950s and also includes a bonus CD with a historic contemporary sound recording.