Shaun Burgoyne’s next game will see him equal Robert DiPierdomenico in having played 240 Hawthorn games.

Burgoyne and DiPierdomenico have both worn the number 9 guernsey with distinction, however each of them has played one game in another number.

In DiPierdomenico’s case, it was when he made his debut as a 17-year-old in 1975, wearing number 38. He did not make another appearance until the opening round of 1978 by which time he had graduated to number 9.

Burgoyne wore number 67 in Round 10 2017 to mark the 50^th anniversary of the passing of the Referendum on Indigenous issues. Like this week, that 2017 game was against Sydney at the SCG, and Burgoyne played a significant role in a stunning upset win for the Hawks.

Of course, neither DiPierdomenico nor Burgoyne hold the record for the most Hawthorn games in number 9, which belongs to Shane Crawford, who played all 305 games of his stellar career from 1993 to 2008 in number 9.

Hawthorn has had some thrilling victories against Sydney at the SCG in the past decade, with wins by the narrow margins of seven (2012), five (2016), six (2017) and nine (2018).

Who could forget the exciting goals kicked by Brad Sewell (2012), Cyril Rioli (2016) and Jarryd Roughead (2017) to clinch victories, remarkably all three being preceded by goals from the maestro of the tight finish, Shaun Burgoyne.

In Round 23 2018, goals from Harry Morrison, Ricky Henderson and Luke Breust took the margin from a deficit of nine to a nine-point win and clinched a top-four place.

Overall, Hawthorn has a 15-14 advantage in games against the Swans at the SCG and a 16-15 record at the ground overall, having also beaten North Melbourne there in 1979, but lost to Gold Coast this season. The Hawks and Swans also played four times at Stadium Australia recording two wins each, the Hawthorn victories coming in 2013 and 2015, with Sydney prevailing in 2009 and 2014.

In total, Hawthorn has played South Melbourne / Sydney 168 times, recording 93 wins, 73 defeats and two draws. Hawthorn beat the Swans 13 consecutive times from 1971 to 1977, and 11 times from 1981 to 1986.

This week, Luke Breust and Liam Shiels will equal club legend Graham Arthur on 232 career games. Breust also needs one goal to join Dermott Brereton on 427 goals for the Hawks.

This round marks the 40^th anniversary of Hawthorn’s last game against the Swans when they were still known as South Melbourne. In Round 13 1981, at Princes Park, Hawthorn beat South by 32 points – 20.18.138 to 15.16.106. Hawthorn had 11 individual goalkickers, headed by Rick Davies and Leigh Matthews with three apiece, while Peter Murnane starred with a career-high 34 disposals and booted two goals.

In recent times, the Queen’s Birthday Monday has been dominated by Melbourne and Collingwood, but in previous times there were multiple games on the day.

Hawthorn’s last game on this holiday Monday was in 1995, against Sydney at Waverley and resulted in a comfortable Hawthorn win – 17.11.113 to 9.17.71. The highlight of the game was Shayne Stevenson kicking a goal while hobbling on one leg. He had a good excuse to be hobbling as the leg was subsequently confirmed as being broken.

In the 1980s, Hawthorn played Collingwood at Waverley twice on the Queen’s Birthday Monday drawing a record crowd of 92,935 in 1981 and 62,339 in 1984. In 1985, Hawthorn played a memorable draw at the MCG against North Melbourne on the holiday Monday, in a game which saw John Kennedy Snr. coach against the Hawks for the first time.

The Hawks have played 94 matches in Round 13 for 43 wins, 50 defeats and one draw (and two byes), including an unbeaten run of seven wins and two byes from 2010 to 2018.

10 years ago, in Round 13 2011, Hawthorn played its first ever game against Gold Coast. The Hawks recorded a 71-point Launceston win against the League’s newest team – 19.15.129 to 8.10.58. Two young Hawks, Luke Breust and Shane Savage, both kicked four goals and the latter got two Brownlow votes for an outstanding 33-disposal game.

30 years ago, in Round 13 1991, a crowd of just 5,741 braved the wintery conditions at Princes Park to see the Hawks thrash Brisbane Bears – 22.17.149 to 9.8.62. One of the highlights of the day for Hawthorn fans was the debut of Michael Johnston who had 20 disposals, kicked two goals, and received two Brownlow votes.

50 years ago, in Round 13 1971, the Hawks made it seven wins in a row with a solid 35-point victory against Fitzroy at Waverley – 14.9.93 to 7.16.58. Peter Hudson kicked nine goals.

60 years ago, in Round 13 1961, Hawthorn confirmed its position as a genuine Premiership threat with victory against reigning Premiers, Melbourne, winning 8.10.58 to 5.10.40. Brendan Edwards, who beat three opponents in the centre, was the Hawks’ best player, while Colin Youren put in a faultless wet weather display on his wing.

Peter Hudson holds the individual goals record for Hawthorn against the Swans, twice kicking 13, in both 1969 and 1970. Hudson shares the Round 13 goal-kicking record with Jason Dunstall, with Hudson booting nine in 1971 (see above) and Dunstall in 1988. They are followed by bags of eight from Peter Knights (1972), Mike Moncrieff (1980) and Simon Minton-Connell (1995).