Reflecting on all the topical milestones and achievements, past and present, as we head into Round 1 of the 2018 season. This is 'Footy Flashbacks'....

This week we mark the anniversaries of the debuts of some Hawthorn greats.

Ten years ago, in Round 1 2008, an MCG crowd of 40,141 saw Cyril Rioli burst onto the football scene as the Hawks massacred Melbourne by 104 points – 23.16.154 to 6.14.50. Rioli’s first goal for the club, at the nine-minute mark of the final term, took the Hawks’ lead beyond 100 points. 

Another player to make his debut for the club in the same game was former Port Adelaide forward, Stuart Dew. He kicked two goals, both in the third quarter. By the end of the season, Rioli and Dew were combining as stars in one of the most memorable quarters in the history of Hawthorn – the third quarter of the 2008 Grand Final. 

Read: Flashback to Cyril Rioli's debut game

Rioli and Dew shared that memorable 2008 Premiership with Shane Crawford whose own debut had taken place 15 years earlier, which makes it a quarter of a century ago this week, in Round 1 1993.

Crawford’s first game was also against Melbourne, but in his case at Waverley rather than the MCG, and in a much tighter game. The Demons led by a goal at half-time, but Hawthorn pulled away in the second half to win 13.15.93 to 11.4.70. The Hawks’ best included Andy Gowers, Chris Langford, Anthony Condon and Darrin Pritchard, while Crawford made a promising debut with 19 disposals and a goal. 

Another member of the 2008 Premiership team, Trent Croad, made his debut 20 years ago, in Round 1 1998, in a loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

Other anniversaries of Round 1 debuts of future Premiership players include 30 years since the debut of Tony Hall (1988); 40 years since Terry Wallace and Norm Goss (1978); 50 years since Norm Bussell (1968); and 60 years since the late Colin Youren played his first game in a one-point win against St Kilda at Glenferrie in 1958. 

Having lost to Geelong and Essendon in the opening rounds of the past two seasons, Hawthorn will be trying to avoid losing its opening game in three consecutive seasons for the first time in well over 50 years.

The last time the Hawks lost three or more consecutive Round 1 games was a run of five opening round defeats from 1959 to 1963, ironically a sequence which included the seasons in which the club played in its first two Grand Finals. 

Overall in Round 1 Hawthorn has played 93 times for 39 wins and 54 losses.

The Hawks and Magpies have met in the opening round on 12 previous occasions, the first clash being in 1932 and the most recent in 2012. The two clubs played four consecutive Round 1 games from 1998 to 2001.

Hawthorn secured its first Round 1 win against Collingwood in 1969, leading at every change to beat the inaccurate Magpies by 22 points – 17.9.111 to 11.23.89. Peter Hudson kicked 6 goals and the leading kick-getters (all with 19) were new captain David Parkin, Peter Chilton and Ray Wilson.

The Round 1 2012 encounter was a re-match of the 2011 Preliminary Final which had ended in heartbreak for the Hawks. This time, Hawthorn emerged victorious – 20.17.137 to 16.19.115 – the same 22-point margin as in 1969. Lance Franklin booted 5 goals and Sam Mitchell had 32 disposals. One of the highlights of the night was provided by Jack Gunston, who, after crossing from Adelaide and being the substitute in his club debut, kicked a magnificent final quarter goal from the boundary to seal the result.

Can anyone name the other two players, apart from Gunston, who made Hawthorn debuts in Round 1 2012? Answers at the end of the column.

Before the loss to Collingwood in Round 9 last season, Hawthorn had won a club record nine consecutive games against the Magpies. The Hawks soon began a new winning sequence with a 24-point victory in Round 15. That win took the overall record between the clubs to 97-66 in Collingwood’s favour. 

Read: How the Pies have performed across the pre-season

This Saturday night, the Hawks will play for premiership points on 24 March for the first time ever. Hawthorn has played two previous games on both the adjoining dates. 23 and 25 March, in each case for one win and one loss.

Hawthorn’s first March game was in 1980 and going into this weeks’ game the club’s March record is 22 wins and 15 losses. 

Jason Dunstall holds the Hawthorn record for most goals in a game versus Collingwood, having booted 11 in both 1989 and 1990. Next best was Michael Moncrieff’s 10 in 1976. 

The club record for Round 1 is 12 goals also kicked by Dunstall, against Geelong in the opening rounds of both 1990 and 1992. 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).

Answer – The other Round 1 2012 debutants, apart from Jack Gunston, were Jarrad Baumann and Broc McCauley.