This week’s match in Adelaide marks the 20th anniversary of Adelaide’s first AFL game, played against Hawthorn on Friday 22 March 1991. 

A strong Hawthorn contingent in the Football Park crowd of 44,902 had little to cheer for as the Hawks were thrashed by 86 points - 24.11.155 to 9.15.69. 

To make the night even worse, it led to Dermott Brereton copping a five week suspension.

While Adelaide triumphed in Round 1, they did not make the finals, while the Hawks stormed home to win the 1991 flag.



1991 was part of an amazing sequence of Round 1 results in the years 1987 to 1997.  The only three seasons in which the Hawks lost in Round 1 (1988, 1989 and 1991) were also the only three when they went on to win the flag.



Round 1, 1991 might not have been an omen for the rest of that season, but it has proved to be one for subsequent away games against Adelaide, with Hawthorn only recording three wins (1993, 1994 and 2008) there in 20 years, balanced against ten defeats.  Perhaps, it is fortunate that the game not being on the fixture list in seven other seasons.

Of the ten defeats, only the two point loss in 1995 was close.  After that, the next narrowest margin was 27 points in 2009 followed by 33 points in 1998, with the others including the 1991 thrashing, another defeat by the same 86 point margin in 2000, and by 71 points in 2007.



Remarkably, one of Hawthorn’s three wins against Adelaide at Football Park was by a bigger margin than any of the ten defeats.  It was in Round 9, 1994 that the Hawks obliterated the Crows by 97 points - 22.13.145 to 7.6.48.  The victory was built on amazing first and third quarters, in both of which Adelaide failed to score, while the Hawks kicked 8.1 and 8.5 respectively.  The stars were Jason Dunstall who kicked five in the opening term on his way to 9 and John Platten who kicked a career-high six goals.  



The Round 12 2008 game was close all night, with the Hawks trailing by one, two and three points at the breaks, before turning it around in the final term, to win 11.10.76 to 10.12.72.  Luke Hodge kicked the winning goal.  Hodge was rated second best for the Hawks, behind captain, Sam Mitchell.



Given the away record, it is fortunate that in 15 home games against Adelaide, the Hawks hold a 9-6 advantage and with the ledger squared at 1-1 in Finals, it makes the overall record 13-17 after 30 games.



Hawthorn has never played Port Adelaide or West Coast in Round 1. 

Of Victorian opponents, the team that Hawthorn has played least recently in Round 1 is the Bulldogs, who have not been the opponent in the season opener since 1962.



If the Hawks beat Adelaide this week, it will end a pattern of alternating Round 1 results for Hawthorn.  In the past eight seasons results have alternated - wins in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, separated by losses in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.  

Overall in Round 1, Hawthorn has won 36 and lost 50.



Ironically, in the loss to Adelaide in Round 1 1991, the only two Hawthorn debutants were both South Australians - Darren Jarman and Matthew Robran.  Both would end up playing for Adelaide.

Five years earlier, 25 years ago this week, another South Australian, John Platten made his Hawthorn debut.  Platten was outstanding in the Hawks’ six goal win over their eventual 1986 Grand Final opponent Carlton at Waverley Park.



1991 was not the only Premiership season to begin with defeat.

Hawthorn, which had finished a strong fifth in 1960, was strongly favoured to open the 1961 season with a win, playing at home against South Melbourne, which had finished eighth the previous year.  However, the Swans had other ideas.

After a hard-fought opening three quarters, the Hawks trailed by eight points at the final change.  Hawthorn dominated the early part of the last quarter, and eventually an Ian Mort goal cut the margin to just two points. 

The rising hopes of the home fans were quickly dashed when South replied almost straightaway and then took control of the match, adding 3.6 to 1.1 for the term to run out 11.15.81 to 7.14.56 winners.

The Age reported that “possibly the brightest spot for Hawthorn was the consistent play of centre half back John McArthur and half back flank Cam McPherson”.

It was a disappointing start to the season, made worse by an injury to John Winneke and the prospect of a meeting with reigning premiers Melbourne in Round 2.



Unlike the losses in 1961 and 1991, forty years ago Hawthorn’s 1971 campaign began with a win against Essendon at Windy Hill.  The Hawks led at every change to win 13.18.96 to 10.12.72, with Peter Hudson kicking five, Kevin Heath three and Leigh Matthews two.



Jason Dunstall had an excellent record against Adelaide. He kicked nine on three separate occasions - in 1993 and 1994 (both at Football Park) and in 1996 (at Waverley). He also kicked an eight and a seven against the Crows.  The best by a current player against Adelaide is seven - the unforgettable seven booted by Lance Franklin in the 2007 Elimination Final.

The Round 1 Club record is also held by Dunstall who kicked 12 in 1990 and 1992, both times against Geelong.  Others to reach double figures in Round 1 were Alec Albiston (10 in 1940), Peter Hudson (10 in 1968) and Leigh Matthews (11 in 1981).