The relocation of Sunday’s game will give Hawthorn the opportunity to continue an excellent record against GWS Giants at the MCG.
The two clubs have met three times at the MCG with the games producing victories to the Hawks by 162 points (2012), seven points (2014) and 33 points (2019).
The 2012 game was also played in Round 15 and saw Hawthorn 28.25.193 defeat GWS 4.7.31. Jarryd Roughead kicked six goals and Lance Franklin four, before leaving the field injured. Franklin’s second goal was his 500th career goal. Four Hawks had over 30 disposals, headed by Matthew Suckling with a career-high 35.
The 2014 encounter was in Round 11, one of the five games when Brendan Bolton was acting coach of the Hawks due to Alastair Clarkson being ill. Defeat looked a serious possibility for Hawthorn when a three-goal burst took the Giants to an 11-point lead late in the third quarter. However, the Hawks were able to regain a one-point lead by the final change and had sufficient composure to hold on for a 14.10.94 to 13.9.87 win. Jack Gunston and Isaac Smith both booted four goals, with Luke Hodge and Liam Shiels among the best.
In Round 8 2019, the Hawks won 10.11.71 to 5.8.38, keeping the Giants to just one goal in the second half, an achievement they bettered later in the season at Manuka Oval where they kept the Giants goalless after half-time. These performances were made even more remarkable when GWS went on to contest the 2019 Grand Final. In the MCG match, Ricky Henderson was the star with 36 disposals.
In total, the Hawks and Giants a have met 10 times with Hawthorn leading the head-to-head 5-4, with one draw in Launceston in 2017. The only away win in the encounters between the clubs was by Hawthorn in Canberra in 2019.
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Luke Breust has joined a select group of players who have kicked 20 goals in 10 different seasons for the Hawks. Breust reached the milestone in every season from his debut in 2011 until 2019 and, having narrowly missed reaching it with 16 goals in the shortened 2020 season, is back above the benchmark with 23 goals already in 2021.
Leigh Matthews kicked at least 20 goals in an incredible 16 seasons, only missing in his debut season of 1969 when he kicked seven goals in five games. Jason Dunstall reached 20 in all 14 of his seasons from 1985 to 1998, while both John Peck and Michael Moncrieff managed to do so in 11 of their 13 seasons. The underrated Moncrieff only missed out in his debut season of 1971, when he spent most of his nine games on the bench or in defence, and in 1977 when he returned to defence for a season, with Peter Hudson making a comeback at full-forward.
The fifth player to do so was Jarryd Roughead, who achieved the feat 10 times, in 2007-10, 2012-15 and 2017-18. Breust is certainly in exalted company with these other five Hawthorn greats.
Round 15 has historically been one of Hawthorn’s best rounds, producing 49 wins, 44 defeats, two draws (in 1944 and 1956) and one bye. In the 27 seasons from 1970 to 1996, Hawthorn’s Round 15 return was remarkably good, with 24 wins and only three losses.
30 years ago, in Round 15 1991, Hawthorn featured in a high-scoring Friday night encounter with North Melbourne at the MCG. The teams went into the game in adjoining positions on the ladder (5th and 6th), a closeness reflected in a reasonably even first half.
However, the Hawks then produced a 17-goal second half to win 27.17.179 to 18.7.115. Tony Hall kicked six goals, Paul Hudson five, Jason Dunstall four and Dermott Brereton three, with the Brownlow votes going to Hudson, Hall and Stephen Lawrence.
40 years ago, in Round 15 1981, after a slow start, Hawthorn scored a comprehensive 60-point victory against North Melbourne at Arden Street – 16.19.115 to 7.13.55. The Hawks added 7.5 to 0.3 in the second quarter, with skipper Leigh Matthews kicking four of them, on his way to six for the match.
50 years ago, in Round 15 1971, Hawthorn produced what one critic described as perhaps the best 15 minutes of football in its history to turn a 10-point deficit at the ten-minute mark of the last quarter into a 23-point win in the match-of-the-day against St Kilda.
Peter Hudson starred with 12 goals as Hawthorn defeated its eventual Grand Final opponent – 20.5.125 to 15.12.102 - in front of 22,542 at Glenferrie. Apart from Hudson, the multiple goal-scorers for Hawthorn were Bob Keddie and Brian Shinners each with two. At the time, the loss sent the Saints down to sixth, but they recovered to finish second by the end of the home and away season.
60 years ago, in Round 15 1961, the Hawks extended their winning sequence to a new club record of seven, with a comprehensive win against bottom team North Melbourne – 15.10.100 to 6.11.47. It bettered the previous best of six recorded in the final six rounds of 1960.
The surprise star for the Hawks was young second rover Jack Cunningham who, in just his fifth game, kicked four goals. Most pundits thought it was a toss-up between Les Kaine and Col Youren for best player honours, while others to play well included John Winneke, Cam McPherson, Ron Nalder and Garry Young.
Jarryd Roughead holds the Hawks’ individual record against GWS kicking six in 2012 at the MCG. The best individual return for a Hawthorn player in Round 15 is 12 goals, recorded by Peter Hudson in 1971 (see above).
