In 1961, the Hawks had just commenced what was to be an unbeaten run to the grand final, while in 1983 the Hawks lost three further home and away games (in Rounds 11, 19 and 20) en route to the Flag. In both those seasons, the Hawks were fifth after Round 9 (in a 12-team competition) compared to the Club’s current position of eighth.
Hawthorn holds a narrow 3-2 advantage in games against North Melbourne at Aurora Stadium. The Hawks won matches in 2006, 2009 and 2011, but lost in 2007 and 2010.
Last season’s win came in Round 20 and was by 17 points, after the Hawks led by just a point at the final change. Lance Franklin and Isaac Smith each kicked three goals, while Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge both received Brownlow votes.
While this will be the sixth game against North at Aurora, Hawthorn has hosted no other Victorian club more than once at the venue - the others being Richmond (2006), Geelong (2007), the Bulldogs (2008) and St Kilda (2009).
The last time Hawthorn and North met in Round 10 was in 1979. It was a game that created history as it was played at the SCG - the first VFL game outside Victoria since 1952 and first ever for Hawthorn.
The team was in mediocre form, having won only four of its first nine matches for the season. Its opponent, perennial 1970s rival, North Melbourne, had been progressing much better, with eight wins and one loss.
The crowd of 31,391 saw the game go largely as expected in the first half, as North took an 11-point lead into the half time break. The Hawks, however, recaptured some of their best form with a 9.4 to 2.2 third quarter that set them on the way to a 51-point win - 23.18.156 to 16.9.105.
Peter Russo was leading goal-kicker with four, followed by Leigh Matthews with three, one of which was a piece of classic Matthews play as he baulked several opponents in the right forward pocket before steering his kick home through the Randwick end goals.
The list of best players for Hawthorn was headed by first season player John Kennedy Jnr. and also contained Russo, Matthews, Murnane, Tuck and Goss.
Hawthorn took an unchanged line-up into the match against the Tigers for the fifteenth time under Coach Alastair Clarkson.
2012 is the third consecutive season in which Hawthorn and North Melbourne have played only once in the home and away season. That follows a stretch of eight consecutive years when the teams played twice.
In those eight consecutive seasons (2002-09), the results were split five times. The Roos won both matches in 2004 and 2005, before in 2009, Hawthorn finally managed to beat North twice in the same season for the first time since 1992.
Hawthorn has played against North Melbourne more than any other club in the league.
In those games, the Hawks have recorded 89 wins, two draws and 74 losses. The next highest number of games that Hawthorn has played against an opponent is 157 against Carlton.
Interestingly, Hawthorn’s second SCG game was also in Round 10, 30 years ago this week, in Round 10 1982. A 10.8 second term put the Hawks on track for a big score of 24.13.157, but they also conceded 15.13.103. Michael Byrne kicked five goals, Gary Buckenara four and Peter Knights three, while those in the votes included Kelvin Moore and Colin Robertson.
20 years ago, in Round 10 1992, Hawthorn scored a regulation 61-point win over the lowly Swans in Sydney, with Jason Dunstall kicking seven and Tony Hall four, while Darren Jarman had 31 disposals and Gary Ayres 30.
50 years ago, in Round 10 1962, Hawthorn recorded its fourth win for the season defeating South Melbourne at the Lake Oval 12.14.86 to 7.8.50. Ian Mort kicked three goals, while Morton Browne and Kevin Connell each booted two. The team included 14 of the previous year’s premiership team. The win lifted the Hawks to eighth on the ladder, but they were still three games plus a considerable amount of percentage behind fourth placed Footscray.
70 years ago, in Round 10 1942, Hawthorn played South Melbourne at Punt Road, as Lake Oval was unavailable during the war. A major upset seemed to be brewing when the last-placed Hawthorn led third placed South by 11 points at three quarter time, but a 2.4 to 0.2 final term saw the Swans sneak home by three points.
40 years ago, in Round 10 1972, Hawthorn beat Carlton by three points. The final score, in front of 26,585 at Glenferrie, was Hawthorn 11.22.88, Carlton 13.7.85.
Carlton went into the game with an excellent record at Glenferrie having won its last five, but this time Hawthorn prevailed. The Hawks’ best players was headed by the dynamic roving duo of Peter Crimmins and Leigh Matthews, while others in the best were Norm Bussell, David Parkin, Kelvin Moore and Michael Moncrieff.
There were 16 members of the previous year’s premiership team playing, the only absentees being Peter Hudson, Geoff Angus, Bruce Stevenson and Ray Wilson.
Between 2000 and 2009, Round 10 was Hawthorn’s hoodoo round, with just one win, coming in 2007 when Hawthorn scored a comfortable 34-point win over Port Adelaide at Football Park. None of the nine defeats were by narrow margins, the closest being 21 points in 2006 and the heaviest 86 points in 2004.
Things have improved in the past two years. In 2010, the Hawks scored a stunning 50-point win against Carlton and last season recorded a comfortable 29-point win against the Western Bulldogs. Overall, Round 10 has been one of the Club’s better rounds with 43 wins and 44 defeats.
The record individual goal tally for Hawthorn against North is 10 held jointly by Alec Albiston (Round 1, 1940) and Jason Dunstall (Round 22, 1988). The most goals by a Hawthorn player in Round 10 is nine - Peter Knights (1985), Paul Hudson (1991) and Jason Dunstall (1990), against Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon respectively.
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Read hawthornfc.com.au's match preview, Looking Ahead to North Melbourne to find out where the Hawks need to nullify the Kangaroos. Check out the match-day guide for all you need to know about this weekend's match against the Kangaroos.
Hear Jarryd Roughead's thoughts on facing one of the best ruckmen in the competition, Todd Goldstein on Saturday.
