The first known football game in the Hawthorn district was reported in the South Bourke Standard on 5 August 1871 between Hawthorn Grammar School and St Patricks College.
By the end of the 19th Century three ambitious attempts, 1873-1883, 1889, 1893-1898 had been made to establish a Hawthorn Football Club, and all had foundered.
In April 1902 a fourth attempt was made to establish a Hawthorn Football Club. This is the Club that continues to this day having forged a very proud history. Hawthorn first played in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA) then joining the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1914.
Hawthorn was invited to join the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1925 becoming one of the powers in the now national competition, the Australian Football League (AFL formed in 1990).
Listed below are the leaders of the Hawthorn Football Club dating back to 1902.
