2015 will see Alastair Clarkson become the first coach in Hawthorn history to coach the club in 11 consecutive seasons. The previous record of ten consecutive seasons was set by John Kennedy Snr from 1967 to 1976. Kennedy also coached one game in 1957 and from 1960 to 1963.

This round marks the 10th anniversary of Clarkson’s coaching debut, which was against Sydney at the SCG in Round 1 2005. The young Hawthorn team which took the field that day was no match for the experienced (and eventual 2005 Premiers) the Swans, who cruised to victory 18.10.118 to 8.7.55. This was a margin of 63 points which, readers will not need reminding, was also the margin in Clarkson’s most recent game as coach – the 2014 Grand Final against the same opponent.

Of that Round 1 2005 Hawthorn team, 11 went onto play in the 2008 Premiership team but, by the 2014 triumph, Luke Hodge was the sole survivor. Sam Mitchell did not play in Clarkson’s first game, but returned to the team the following week.

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On Easter Monday Hawthorn will be hoping to end a remarkable sequence of alternating Round 1 results which stretches back more than a decade.

The Hawks have won their last six Round 1 games in even-numbered years beating Melbourne (2004, 2008 and 2010), Fremantle (2006), Collingwood (2012) and Brisbane Lions (2014). In contrast, the Hawks have lost their last six opening round games in odd-numbered seasons against Geelong (2009 and 2013), Melbourne (2003), Sydney (2005), Brisbane Lions (2007) and Adelaide (2011).

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Overall, in 90 previous Round 1 games, Hawthorn has won 38 and lost 52. On the 11 previous occasions when the Hawks have entered Round 1 as the reigning Premier they have won 6 and lost 5.

Hawthorn has played Geelong on 9 previous occasions in Round 1, with the results favouring the Cats 7-2. Both Hawks’ wins came at Waverley - in 1990 and 1992. The first of these was, of course, after Hawthorn’s previous back-to-back Premierships.

All through the summer of 1989-90, people said that if the 1989 Grand Final had gone another five minutes Geelong would have won. In Round 1 1990, the two teams played a further 120 minutes of football and Hawthorn, this time not incapacitated by injury, prevailed by the not insignificant margin of 115 points – 28.24.192 to 11.11.77.
 
Hawthorn actually trailed by 11 points at quarter time, but from then on kicked 25.20 to 6.8, capped off with a 10.6 to 0.4 last quarter. Jason Dunstall kicked 12 goals, Dermott Brereton 5, Ray Jencke 3 and James Morrissey 3.The Hawks’ dominance was emphasised by the disposals being 350 to 223 in their favour, with leading possession-getters being Anthony Condon (28), Dean Anderson (26) and John Kennedy (26).

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The fixturing of this season’s Round 1 game on 6 April will provide Hawthorn’s latest start to a season since 1979 when the club played its opening game on 7 April. The following season, 1980, was the first time Hawthorn began a season in March. Since then there have only been 6 April starts for the brown and gold. Four of those were on 1 April and the other two were on 2 April.

Hawthorn’s earliest ever start to a season was in 2000 when the club’s opening fixture was on 13 March. That season started particularly early so it could be completed before the Sydney Olympic Games.

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The Hawks and Cats have played 156 times, with Hawthorn winning 70, Geelong 85 and one draw.

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The individual goal-kicking records for Round 1 and against Geelong are identical - Jason Dunstall who kicked 12 in Round 1 of both 1990 and 1992, both times against Geelong (see above). 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), while the only other double figure tally against Geelong was by Wally Culpitt (10 in 1944).