Optus Stadium has become just the second venue at which Hawthorn has won its first three games.

The win against Carlton last week made it three from three at Perth’s new stadium, following victories there against Fremantle in 2018 and West Coast last season.

The only other venue at which the Hawks won their opening three games was the SCG, defeating North Melbourne in 1979 and then Sydney in 1982 and 1983. The SCG winning sequence stretched to six before Hawthorn finally suffered a defeat at the ground in 1987, so hopefully Hawthorn can emulate that achievement in Perth.

Other venues at which Hawthorn won its opening two games were Carrara, Docklands and University of Tasmania Stadium, but in those cases there were defeats to Brisbane Bears (1989), Essendon (2000) and Port Adelaide (2002) in the third matches at the respective venues.

It can also be noted that Hawthorn have unbeaten records at two other grounds having won solo games at North Hobart in 1991 and Manuka last season.

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Next Monday night, Hawthorn could set a new outright record winning sequence against Fremantle. Hawthorn has currently had six consecutive victories against the Dockers, equaling previous sequences of six wins from 1998 to 2001 and from 2011 to 2014.

After a loss at Subiaco in late 2014, the Hawks started a new sequence in 2015 and reached six with victory in Launceston in Round 17 last season. The highlight of the current sequence was the triumph in the 2015 Preliminary Final at Subiaco

Overall, Hawthorn holds a commanding 28 to eight advantage from 36 games in the head-to-head tally between the two clubs.

It is a quarter of a century since Fremantle’s debut AFL season in 1995. Hawthorn had to wait until Round 15 to play the new club, when the Dockers came to Waverley for a Saturday afternoon encounter in front of 14,167.

That first meeting between the Hawks and Dockers saw Hawthorn secure a comfortable 44-point win – 18.10.118 to 11.8.74. A highlight was that cousins, Paul Hudson and Simon Minton-Connell, both kicked four goals for the Hawks, while Tim Hargreaves and John Platten each contributed three. There was no dispute about best-on-ground with Darren Jarman accumulating 39 disposals (27 kicks and 12 handballs), laying nine tackles and kicking a goal.

There were 11 Hawthorn premiership players in action, nine playing for the Hawks, plus Ben Allan and Greg Madigan for the Dockers.

Hawthorn is playing Fremantle on 10 August, a date on which the Hawks have not lost since 1969. Hawthorn has recorded five consecutive victories, including by 86 points against Sydney in a top-of-the-table clash at the SCG in 1986, by 126 points versus Fitzroy at Princes Park in 1991 and by 67 points versus Footscray at Waverley in 1996.

In an odd quirk, this will be the first time Hawthorn has played on 10 August since 1996. In the intervening years, the Hawks have played on 9 August seven times and 11 August four times.

Hawthorn had a good record in Round 11 from 2008 to 2016 winning every game played in that period (with byes in 2013 and 2015). A further victory against Port Adelaide in 2018 was sandwiched between defeats in 2017 and 2019. Overall Round 11 remains one of Hawthorn’s less successful rounds, with the club winning just 38 and drawing two of the 93 games.

10 years ago, in Round 11 2010, Hawthorn continued its recovery from a 1-6 start to the season, with an 11-point win against Port Adelaide at the MCG. The Hawks won 10.14.74 to 8.15.63, with the multiple goalkickers being Rick Ladson, Michael Osborne and Brendan Whitecross, all with two goals. Brad Sewell got three Brownlow votes. Despite only having a 5-6 record, Hawthorn climbed into the Eight ahead of four other teams with a similar record but lower percentage.

30 years ago, in Round 11 1990, Hawthorn recorded a solid 49-point victory over Sydney at Princes Park – 19.18.132 to 11.17.83. John Platten was a thoroughly deserving recipient of the three Brownlow votes with five goals to go with his 22 disposals. The younger midfield brigade of Anthony Condon, Paul Cooper and Dean Anderson were also excellent.

50 years ago, in Round 11 1970, Hawthorn (which had begun the season with seven consecutive defeats) made it four wins in a row with a 40-point win against Fitzroy at Glenferrie on the Queen’s Birthday Monday.

The Hawks won 18.12.120 to 12.8.80, with only five individual goalkickers, all of whom were multiple. Peter Hudson kicked seven, Peter Crimmins, Bob Keddie and Ray Wilson all booted three, while 18-year old Leigh Matthews contributed two. The leading kick-getter was Des Meagher with 23.

Hawthorn which had been bottom of the ladder from Rounds 3 to 9, now leapt up to eighth on the ladder and, despite only having a 4-7 record, had a percentage of 104.3.

Mark Williams holds the record for most goals by a Hawthorn player against the Dockers, kicking eight against them in Round 1 2006 in Launceston. The Round 11 individual goal-kicking record is held by Peter Hudson with his 13 goals against South Melbourne at Glenferrie in 1969.