Michael Hartley’s Hawthorn debut last Saturday made him the fifth the player from another AFL club to debut for the Hawks this season, the most in a single season for 84 years.

In addition to Hartley, Sam Frost, Jonathon Patton, Darren Minchington and Keegan Brooksby have made their first appearances for Hawthorn in 2020. 

Back in 1936, there were six Hawthorn debutants, who had previously played at other League clubs - Alby De Luca, Bill Ripper, Frank Asling, Jack Stenhouse, Alf Neeson and Harold Albiston.

In the intervening years between 1936 and 2020, Hawthorn gave debuts to four recruits from other League clubs in no fewer than eight seasons (1939, 1946, 1950, 1996, 1997, 2010, 2011 and 2017). 

This week, the Hawks will be hoping to reverse the result of the only previous occasion when Hawthorn and Essendon contested a League game outside Victoria. 

The previous meeting was in 1981, coincidentally also in Round 14, but the venue was the Gabba. Essendon won a high-scoring encounter 22.19.151 to 20.13.133 in front of 20,351. Peter Murnane kicked a career-high five goals for the Hawks and Rick Davies contributed four goals. 

Having lost to Essendon in Round 13 last season, Hawthorn will also be hoping to avoid losing consecutive game to the Bombers for the first time since 2009-10. Since losing three in a row in that period, Hawthorn has won nine of its last 12 against Essendon. Overall, the two clubs have played each other 163 times, with the Hawks winning 65 and losing 98. 

This round will see Hawthorn playing its ninth game on a Thursday. The Hawks have won five of the previous eight, most recently earlier this season, defeating Richmond by 32 points at the MCG in Round 3.

Adelaide Oval has been the venue for four of the previous eight Thursday Hawthorn games, with the Hawks winning three of them, defeating Adelaide in 2015 and 2017, and Port Adelaide in 2016. 

Hawthorn has played 93 matches in Round 14, recording 46 wins and 47 losses (and had the bye in both 1993 and 1994). The Hawks had victories in nine consecutive games in the round from 2010 to 2018.

The club’s results in Round 14 were poor in its early years, before a breakthrough win against Fitzroy in Round 14 1937. By 1954, the Hawks had still only won four Round 14 games, but things began improving in John Kennedy’s coaching era when Hawthorn won 13 of 14, including all ten in his second period in charge from 1967 to 1976. 

10 years ago, in Round 14 2010, Hawthorn made it seven consecutive wins with a thrilling three-point victory over the Western Bulldogs in front of 47,454 at the MCG – 12.7.79 to 11.10.76. The Hawks trailed at every change, but outstanding 28-disposal games from both Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge were enough to get their team home. 

20 years ago, in Round 14 2000, Hawthorn played a game which had some notable features. Firstly, the date and venue were changed at the last minute from Saturday night at Docklands to Sunday at the MCG, due to the state of the surface at the new ground. Secondly, the Hawks had a record 16 individual goalkickers in a score of 27.9.171 as they cruised to an an 85-point win against St Kilda. Shane Crawford had his best game of the post-Brownlow season, with 36 disposals.

30 years ago, in Round 14 1990, Hawthorn again confirmed its superiority over Geelong, adding to the 115-point thrashing of the Cats in Round 1. The margin this time was 68 points – 18.10.118 to 7.8.50 – with Paul Dear booting four goals, and Stephen Lawrence playing a game which secured him the three Brownlow votes. 

40 years ago, in Round 14 1980, Hawthorn thrashed Fitzroy on a miserable day at Princes Park – 21.17.143 to 8.7.55. Hawthorn only led by 21 points at half-time, but the crowd of 8,209 then saw one of the most dominant quarters in football history, as the Hawks added 11.4 to 0.0 in the third term to lead by 91 points at the final change. Leigh Matthews (34 disposals and five goals) and Alan Goad (29 disposals and four goals) starred.

50 years ago, in Round 14 1970, eighth-placed Hawthorn scored a stunning win over top team Collingwood at Glenferrie. A high-scoring first half saw the scores tied at 11.6 each, before the Hawks slipped away to a 20-point lead at the final change. In stark contrast, to the earlier part of the game the final quarter saw Hawthorn add 1.1 to 0.3 to secure the win.  Peter Hudson kicked nine goals.

60 years ago, in Round 14 1960, an inaccurate Hawthorn defeated Footscray at the Western Oval – 9.21.75 to 5.9.39. Garry Young kicked three majors for the Hawks.

80 years ago, in Round 14 1940, Hawthorn recorded its first win at Punt Road, after 14 previous defeats at the venue. Hawthorn had won home games against Richmond in 1936 and 1938, and now the tenth-placed Mayblooms were travelling to Punt Road to see if they could secure a ground-breaking away win against the fourth-placed Tigers. Hawthorn trailed by 12 points at half time, but a strong finish produced a memorable 12.15.87 to 11.13.79 win.  Alby Naismith booted three goals.

Jason Dunstall holds the club record individual goal-kicking record against Essendon with 12 in 1992. Other big bags against the Bombers were 11 by Leigh Matthews in 1973 and 10 by Michael Moncrieff in 1972. Peter Hudson holds the Round 14 record with 12 goals kicked against Footscray at Glenferrie in 1968.