This round represents a significant anniversary for the Day family.
50 years ago, in Round 2 1971, Robert Day made his debut for the Hawks and now five decades later, his grandson Will Day will be hoping to continue his outstanding start to the 2021 season.
Robert Day’s debut had been delayed a week, pending his clearance from West Adelaide, but he got his opportunity in the Round 2 Glenferrie clash with Fitzroy. The Age commented that ‘Day did not disappoint’, adding that ‘few players break into League football by winning 20 kicks and taking six marks’ as the Hawks cruised to a 44-point win.
Last Saturday night’s half-time deficit of 39 points was the equal fourth biggest which Hawthorn has overcome. The other occasion when Hawthorn trailed by 39 points at the long interval but still won was in Round 11 1949 against St Kilda at the Junction Oval. The only bigger half time deficits which the Hawks have turned around were 49 points versus Geelong at Princes Park in 1989; 44 points against St Kilda at Waverley in 1999; and 40 points versus Melbourne at the MCG in 1973.
The one-point win was the 15th in Hawthorn history and the second against the Bombers. The previous one-point triumph against Essendon was in Round 5 2006 when Mark Williams kicked the winning goal in wet conditions at the MCG to see the Hawks prevail 12.12.84 to 12.11.83.
Hawthorn’s narrow win against Essendon continued the club’s excellent recent record in games decided by six points or fewer. In the past six seasons, Hawthorn has played in 22 such games for the strong record of 16 wins, one draw and just five losses. This recent positive run has seen Hawthorn go ahead in the overall record in these games, with 121 wins, 113 losses and 11 draws.
This Sunday, Hawthorn will be endeavouring to win the opening two games of the season for just the sixth time in the last 30 years. Previous seasons in that period when the Hawks have done so were 1993, 2001, 2008, 2014 and 2018.
Much has been made of Connor Downie spending his debut game entirely on the bench. There is nothing new in this. In fact, when replacements were allowed for the first time with the introduction of the 19th man in Round 1, Hawthorn selected debutant George Bennett in the role and he did not come on the ground, despite injuries to both Jack Sharpley, who had an injured ankle and Len Mills with a sprained wrist. Opponents St Kilda were one of four League clubs to use their Reserve that day.
Like Downie, Bennett saw a thrilling final quarter, in his case watching Hawthorn come from 15 points down at the final change to win by 11 points, as the Mayblooms celebrated opening day success for the first time since joining the VFL.
Bennett went onto play 92 games in the brown and gold in two spells from 1930 to 1933 and 1942 to 1944, with a 108-game career at Footscray in between.
One overlooked fact when assessing the prospects of teams in 2021 is that Hawthorn has won its last four MCG games, all being victories against teams which made the Finals in the past two seasons. There were wins against Collingwood and Geelong in the Hawks’ last two MCG games in 2019, and versus Brisbane Lions and Richmond in the only games there in 2020.
Hawthorn has had some long winning sequences versus Richmond, including 16 (1985-94) and 10 (1959-64). Overall though the Hawks trail the Tigers in the head-to-head by 71 to 89.
Round 2 has historically been one of the Hawthorn’s poorer rounds, with only 39 wins, one draw and 56 losses. However, the Hawks have recorded some excellent victories in Round 2 in years ending in 1.
The most significant was 60 years ago, in Round 2 1961, when Hawthorn overpowered reigning Premier Melbourne at the MCG. In front of a crowd of 34,640, the Hawks led by a solitary point at half time, but then pulled away to win 11.10.76 to 5.14.44, with Garry Young kicking four goals and Phil Hay two. The best players included Roy Simmonds, Malcolm Hill, Ron Nalder and Kevin Connell. The Age report commented that ‘Hawthorn clearly stamped itself as the greatest threat for years to Melbourne’s supremacy’.
More recently, 10 years ago, in Round 2 2011, Hawthorn bounced back from a Round 1 defeat against Adelaide to record a 45-point victory over Melbourne at the MCG. The Hawks appeared to be in trouble when 19 points down at half-time, not helped by kicking 3.13, but recovered with an 8.11 to 1.1 third quarter. Shaun Burgoyne kicked four goals and the Brownlow votes went to Cyril Rioli, Matt Suckling and Sam Mitchell.
20 years ago, in Round 2 2001, Hawthorn recorded just its second win against Carlton since 1991, with a 26-point victory at Princes Park – 16.11.107 to 11.15.81. Jonathan Hay was outstanding with 24 disposals and 12 marks, a performance which earned him the three Brownlow votes.
30 years ago, in Round 2 1991, Hawthorn stunned Sydney with a 10.3 to 2.2 opening term, before cruising to a 91-point win at Princes Park – 25.16.166 to 10.15.75. Jason Dunstall with nine goals got the three Brownlow votes, while Anthony Condon was the leading possession-getter with 30.
Jason Dunstall had an amazing season against Richmond in 1992, booting a club record 17 goals in Round 7 and following it up with a further bag of 12 in Round 22.
Dunstall also holds the Round 2 record, kicking nine twice – in 1988 versus Richmond and in 1991 against Sydney (see above).
