Another positive omen entering the 2012 season, is Hawthorn’s record in years following a third-placed finish in the season previous.
Prior to 2011, Hawthorn finished third on just four occasions, the most recent in 1977 and 1982. Hawthorn also improved after being third in 1974, but this time only one spot, losing the 1975 Grand Final. The only time when third place did not lead to a grand final the following season was when, after making the finals for the first time in 1957, the Hawks missed the top four in 1958.
This week marks a quarter century since Tony Symonds became the first player selected in a National Draft to play for Hawthorn.
Symonds, from Glenelg, was taken with pick 65 (the last pick by any club) in the inaugural National Draft in late 1986 and did well to break into the reigning Premiership team for a Grand Final re-match in against Carlton at Princes Park in Round 1. The Hawks cruised to a 45-point win, with Symonds spending most of the match on the bench. He only managed two further games.
Only one other of the five players selected by the Hawks in that draft played senior football for the Club. His name, was Darrin Pritchard (pick 26), who made his debut in Round 8 1987 and went onto play 211 games and be a member of three Premiership teams.
While finishing third the year before has generally been a good omen, years ending in 'two' have not been happy ones for the Hawks in recent decades. With the exception of 1982, when Hawthorn improved from sixth to third, the Hawks have slid down the ladder - from fourth to tenth in 2002, from Premiers to sixth in both 1992 and 1972, and from Premiers to ninth in 1962.
Hawthorn will have to make the Grand Final in 2012 to continue the extraordinary sequence which has seen the Club improve its ladder position in 11 of the past 14 seasons, the only exceptions being big slides in 2002, 2004 and 2009.
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 52 to 39 advantage in the head-to-head, not to mention also having won ten Premierships to the Magpies two in the last five decades. This means that currently, after 152 games, Hawthorn has won 56 and Collingwood 96. Hawthorn’s longest winning sequence against Collingwood is seven, achieved between 1985 and 1988.
Hawthorn has won five of its last eight games against Collingwood, but has lost three of the last four. The most recent win was in Round 22, 2010. In that game, Hawthorn trailed at every change, but stormed home late in the final term. Sam Mitchell (30 disposals) and Lance Franklin (6 goals) were outstanding.
After managing just ome game for the Hawks before being delisted, Paul Johnson became the 80th one-gamer in the Club’s history. He made his only appearance in the brown and gold in Round 24 against Gold Coast. One-gamers have become less frequent in recent decades, Johnson being just the sixth in the last 20 years - the others were Dominic Berry (1992), Leon Higgins (1996), Stephen Rode (2000), Bo Nixon (1995) and Matt Little (2007).
If the result does not go the right way on Friday night, Hawks supporters might take some consolation from the amazing sequence of Round 1 results in the years 1987 to 1997. The only three seasons in which the Hawks lost in Round 1 (1988, 1989 and 1991) were also the only three when they went on to win the Premiership.
It was 80 years ago, that Hawthorn first played Collingwood in Round 1, with the two clubs clashing at Glenferrie Oval in Round 1, 1932. Trailing by 33 points at half-time, the Mayblooms excited the home fans with a 4.4 to 1.1 third term, which saw them draw within two goals at the final change. Collingwood, however, steadied to win by 25 points - 11.10.76 to 7.9.51. Bob Murdoch, on debut, kicked 3 goals for the Hawks.
It was a commendable performance by the Mayblooms, as their team contained five debutants, and just one 100 gamer (‘Tich’ Utting), while Collingwood had just one debutant and eight 100 gamers.
Hawthorn was far less competitive when the two teams met 60 years ago, in Round 1 1952, managing just 2.8.20 (still the equal third lowest score in Hawthorn history) to Collingwood’s 15.16.106, in a game also played at Glenferrie. Tom Allsop and Jack Marr kicked the goals, which both came in the first half.
Hawthorn’s first Round 1 win against Collingwood came in 1969. More recently, Hawthorn played Collingwood in four consecutive Round 1 games from 1998 to 2001, with both teams sharing the spoils with two wins apiece. The Hawks won the most recent encounter in 2001, sneaking home by 4 points, with Brownlow votes going to Joel Smith (3), Daniel Chick (2) and Shaun Rehn (1).
Overall, the two clubs have met 11 times in the opening round with the Hawks successful on just three occasions.
40 years ago, in Round 1, 1972, much of the day went as planned, as the Hawks unfurled the 1971 Flag and beat Melbourne comfortably. Yet, the day will always be remembered as the one when Peter Hudson badly injured his knee shortly before half-time, having already kicked 8 goals. John Hendrie made his debut in the same game, and went on to be an integral part of Hawthorn’s flags later in the 1970s.
Ten years later, in Round 1, 1982, another fine duo debuted - half-forward Gary Buckenara (3 goals), and rover Richard Loveridge, who gathered 23 disposals and booted 2 goals. The Hawks were made to work hard for their 31-point win over St Kilda at Moorabbin.
10 years later, in Round 1, 1992, Hawthorn confirmed its superiority over Geelong, coming from 28 points down at half-time to win 21.15.141 to 18.13.121 at Waverley. Jason Dunstall kicked 12 goals, with Darren Jarman the best of the midfielders.
1992 was the second time Jason Dunstall kicked 12 goals against the Cats in the opening round, having also done so in 1990. Others to reach double figures in Round 1 include Alec Albiston (10 in 1940), Peter Hudson (10 in 1968) and Leigh Matthews (11 in 1981).
Dunstall is also the best-performed Hawthorn goalkicker against Collingwood, having booted 11 goals in both the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Next best is Michael Moncrieff’s 10 in 1976.
