The Hawks Museum received an unexpected email recently thanks to the newly refurbished History pages on the Club website. Bryan Pleitner had seen his name in the Missing Hawk list on the site and the Museum’s request for player photographs. He emailed two marvellous photos from his playing days.

Bryan Pleitner was recruited from Footscray in 1968 and made his Hawthorn debut in the Round 12 clash against Essendon. It was to be his only game for the Hawks. The next season saw him play for West Perth in the WANFL (WAFL) with immediate success. He played in the 1969 and 1971 Premierships for that club under captain-coach, Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer.

While the Missing Hawks list is not new – it has run in Hawk Talk and been maintained on the website – the updated site means that the list is more accessible and is already providing results.

The Hawks History pages have been updated in conjunction with the Hawks Museum and provide a wealth of information and photographs. A fresh layout allows fans and historians of the Mighty Hawks to navigate the Club Chronology, Premierships, Hall of Fame, Honour Boards, Peter Crimmins Medallists, Team of the Century, Life Members, Club Records, War Service, Debut Order and the Hawks Museum. It also provides a link for the Past Players’ website.

Each section allows the reader to discover more about the people and teams who made the Brown & Gold.

The Club Chronology is an illustrated look at the significant events and incidents of the club, year by year. The photographs and illustrations - some rarely seen - can be enlarged with a click.

You can explore each winning Grand Final for Hawthorn in Our Premiership Games. Read details of not only the 13 Senior Premierships, but of every known Flag won by a Hawthorn side. There are also mysteries to solve with several unknown Grand Final opponents from Hawthorn’s Junior Premierships in the Melbourne Boys’ League.

In Guernsey Numbers, you find that Bryan Pleitner wore number 32 in the 1968 season. Who wore that number in 1969? That would be Leigh Matthews.

So, what will you discover in the updated Hawks History pages? Perhaps you will find a Missing Hawk!

Visit Hawks History