Ahead of Hawthorn's 1983 premiership reunion this weekend, we've taken a look back at that year that resulted in the ultimate success. 

We'll be telling the story across four instalments - click for part one, part two and part three - while Rounds 18-22 of the 1983 home and away season are recapped below.

Six consecutive wins from Rounds 12 to 17 had lifted Hawthorn to second and the prospect of a top-of-the-table clash with North Melbourne at Arden Street in Round 18.

Hawthorn went into the game without Michael Tuck, who had suffered a dislocated finger the previous week, and Ken Judge. A crowd of 17,720 saw Hawthorn have slightly the better of the first half, before North had a strong third term, establishing a 10-pont lead by the final change. However, the Hawks stormed home with a 5.2.to 2.3 final quarter to win 15.7.97 to 12.18.90.

One match report highlighted the fact that ‘no side in the competition backs up its team-mates better than Hawthorn’, that its defenders ‘don’t just run, they swarm’, and that its ‘skill factor has improved notably in the past two years.’ The two best for the Hawks were Gary Ayres ‘the perfect combination of grace and strength’, and Matthews whose six goals came from his ‘uncanny judgement and strength’ which allowed him ‘to win the best position for a mark time and again’. Other significant contributors included Paton, Greene, Eade and Wallace.

The Hawks were now on top of the ladder for the first time since Round 3 but faced a difficult Round 19 trip to Windy Hill to play an Essendon team smarting both from being booed by their own fans in a 74-point thrashing by lowly Richmond in Round 18, and from their defeat by the Hawks back in Round 8. Recent recruit, Grant Fowler, who had previously played for Fitzroy and Essendon, was selected to make his Hawthorn debut against one of his former clubs and thus became the first Hawthorn player since the 1940s to have played for two other League clubs before donning the brown and gold.

With the advantage of a strong wind to the school end of Windy Hill, Essendon slammed on 10.4 to 0.1 by the 26-minute mark of the first quarter, before three late Hawthorn goals added a little respectability to the score. The Hawks only managed to reduce the margin to 29 points at half-time, then fell further behind in the third quarter. The final margin was 46 points, as Essendon won 23.18.156 to 16.14.110. Colin Robertson was Hawthorn’s best player, with others in the best being Knights, Wallace, Matthews, and Schwab. In a fiery encounter, Robert Dipierdomenico was targeted by Essendon, with one of his assailants being reported. Gary Ayres was also reported, but fortunately was cleared by the tribunal. An incident which resulted in an injury to Kelvin Moore escaped the umpires’ attention.

Hawthorn was now back to third on the ladder and faced the prospect of a Round 20 fixture against bogey team, Carlton, which Hawthorn had beaten just twice in their past 12 matches.

The headline on the Friday before the Carlton game said, ‘Forgotten Hawks Called Up’, a reference to the inclusions of Michael Byrne, David O’Halloran and Michael Moncrieff, none of whom had played for many weeks. The day began well enough with the Hawthorn Reserves storming back from a five-goal three-quarter time deficit to win by 12 points and the Seniors putting together an outstanding first half to lead by 32 points at half-time, aided by some clever positional switches from coach Allan Jeans, such as playing Chris Mew at centre half-forward where he kicked a career-high three goals.

But, once again, as had happened many times in recent seasons, Carlton poured on a third quarter burst, adding 10.3 to 2.4, which led to a 17-point defeat for the Hawks – 15.22.112 to 20.9.129. Colin Robertson was Hawthorn’s best player for the second consecutive week, this time accumulating 33 disposals, an equal career high. Others listed in the best were Greene, Matthews, Eade, Ayres, Mew, and Schwab. Nobody knew it at the time, but this turned out to be the last game for Michael Moncrieff after 224 games and 629 goals, including kicking 97 gaols and 90 goals in the Premiership years of 1976 and 1978.

After three weeks out, Michael Tuck was eager to return against Melbourne and was also looking forward to the Finals as ‘I realise I haven’t got many to go’. As it turned out, he had nine Finals series to go! Tuck certainly returned with a bang, having 31 disposals, and kicking six goals, although his performance went unnoticed by the umpires who failed to give him a single Brownlow vote in the 1983 season. He was not the only Hawk to put in a stellar performance with Terry Wallace accumulating a club record 44 disposals, a record which was equalled by Anthony Condon (1991), Jordan Lewis (2014) and Josh Gibson (2016), but has only been exceeded by Tom Mitchell. Wallace also kicked four goals.

After Melbourne got the first two goals of the match, Hawthorn took complete control winning by 115 points – 25.22.172 to 8.9.57. This was just the seventh 100-plus point win in Hawthorn’s VFL history, and 1983 became just the second season (after 1977) when the Hawks had recorded two such wins. As well as Tuck and Wallace, the best players included Knights, Brereton, Greene, Matthews, and Mew.

Victory against ninth-placed Geelong at Kardinia Park in Round 22 was needed to guarantee the double-chance. Thigh injures ruled both Gary Ayres and Gary Buckenara out of the trip down the highway and then skipper Leigh Matthews was a late withdrawal with a groin injury. However, the result was never in much doubt as the Hawks raced to a 32-point quarter-time lead and went on to record an 80-point victory – 24.13.157 to 11.11.77. Colin Robertson once again starred and equalled his career high of 33 disposals, while Michael McCarthy led out well from full-forward and booted five goals. Others to perform well in the final round were Wallace, Eade, Loverdige, Shields and Brereton.

The Round 22 results meant that Hawthorn would play Fitzroy at the MCG in the Qualifying Final to start its Finals campaign.

Next up tomorrow – Hawthorn’s glorious September (the 1983 Finals Series).