The search for team photos began in 1984 for display in the Past Player Rooms and the Social Club led by former committee member Archie Shaw.
Some 38 years later the search continues. The museum still seeks team photos for 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 and remarkably 1972, the year after the club had won its second premiership.
Club folklore has it that the Club was too broke to take any team photos after the photo taken of the 1961 Premiership team. The next official team photo taken by the Club was for season 1970. The museum does have team photos for 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 (need a better reproduction) and 1967 but these years were found in various football magazines including the Woman’s Weekly.
To add to this intrigue, in 1966 Peter French a young supporter from Deloraine, Tasmania wrote to the club asking to purchase a photo of the 1966 team. He received a reply from club secretary, Ron Cook that no team photo was taken in 1966 but there would be one taken for 1967 and if he could wait, one would be sent to him next year. The letter Peter French received is on display on the Team Photo Wall in the museum and makes for interesting comment when viewed by our visitors.
One very important photo needed - if it exists - is a 1902 team photo, the year the Club was first established. If anyone can shed some light on a 1902 photo, or indeed any team photos from the formative years in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (1902 - 1913), it would be most welcomed.
With the VFA years (1914 - 1924) we still seek team photos for 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 (note the club was in recess in 1917 and 1918 due to WW1 and photos may not have been taken). We also seek original team photos for 1923 and 1924 to copy as we only have very poor-quality newspaper reproductions for these two years.
Our collection of team photos for the 2nd 18 (Reserves), 3rd 18 (Under 19), 4th 18 (the Fourths) and the Colts is minimal. Photos of the Club Committees or Staff & Trainers from any era have proven difficult to find as well, and any information would be most welcome.
With the advent of VFLW the museum has included this important team as part of the Team Photo Wall. We are also looking to fill gaps with Box Hill Team.
We also seek photos of supporter and volunteer groups such as the Thornbirds, the Cheer Squad, WASH, the Social Club and Past Player Committees.
One team photo that the museum seeks many requests for is the 1985 Reserves Premiership Team. This team reflects the second half of the Golden 1980s with a crop of aging stars and a blend of youthful talent that would set the Club alight with premierships in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1991. Does anyone have such a photo?
If anyone can offer any help, please contact the Hawks Museum at hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.comau or call 0427 455 723
