Hawthorn is playing Geelong in a bottom two encounter for the first time in 79 years and a reigning premier in a bottom two game for the first time in 53 years.

Hawthorn played Geelong twice in bottom two games in 1944, recording a comprehensive 53-point victory at Glenferrie in Round 3, but losing by 25 points at Kardinia Park in Round 14. That was Geelong’s only win of the season, while Hawthorn had another win and a draw ensuring that the Hawks avoided the wooden spoon. The clubs had also played a bottom two game in 1941.

Perhaps surprisingly, Hawthorn has played the reigning premier twice before in a bottom two encounter, in 1942 against Melbourne, and in 1970 against Richmond.

In Round 6 1970, the winless Hawks took on 1969 premiers Richmond, who were second last with a 1-4 record. The game which also had the major historic significance of being the first for the club at VFL Park Waverley. In a high-scoring match, Richmond won by seven points – 21.11.137 to 20.10.130. It is worth noting that, between them, the early strugglers of the 1970 season went on to win three Flags in the next four seasons.

It’s a tribute to Hawthorn’s modern-day success that next Monday’s bottom two game against Geelong is just the second against any opponent in the past 15 years. The only other recent such game was against North Melbourne in Round 9 2021. The 13-season period from 2008 to 2020 without a bottom two contest was the second longest in club history, surpassed only by the 27 years from 1971 to 1997. In fact, in the 23 seasons from 1971 to 1993, Hawthorn was only in the bottom two on the ladder after one round (Round 2 1979), so the chances of playing in a bottom-two game were certainly remote.

How good was it to see the number 33 in action for Hawthorn last Saturday for the first time in five years, especially as Tyler Brockman wore the number with such distinction, booting three goals. The last time the number was wore for Hawthorn was in Cyril Rioli’s last game in Round 4 2018, a victory against Melbourne at the MCG.

Since Rioli’s retirement the number has been allocated to Mathew Walker (2019-20), Harry Pepper (2021) and Brockman last season, without any of them cracking a senior appearance. Brockman wore number 42 in his 11 games in 2021.

Apart from Rioli’s 189 games and four premierships in number 33, other Hawks to wear it in premierships were Geoff Angus (1971) and Paul Hudson (1991), while Kris Barlow played 102 games (1999-2004). Several other prominent Hawks (including Ron Nalder, David Parkin and Bob Keddie) wore number 33 before changing to lower numbers.

Hawthorn has a good recent record against reigning premiers, having beaten Western Bulldogs (2017), West Coast (2019) and Richmond (2020), and played a draw with the Tigers in 2021.

Hawthorn trails Geelong 76 to 92 in the head-to-head between the clubs, with one draw (in 1963). The clubs have played on every Easter Monday since 2010 (except 2011 when it was on Easter Tuesday and 2020 due to Covid), with Hawthorn winning in 2015, 2018 and 2022.

Back in Round 3 2006, when the two clubs met at Kardinia Park on Easter Saturday, the Hawks delivered a stunning 52-point upset win. Hawthorn led by seven points at half-time, before blowing the Cats away to win 15.11.101 to 7.7.49. The Brownlow votes went to Hodge, Mitchell and Vandenberg – all Hawthorn captains.

Hawthorn had an outstanding record at Kardinia Park in the mid-late 1990s, winning four times in five seasons, all as underdogs and all by narrow margins: five points (1995), two (1996), six (1997) and two again (1999). These four victories contributed to a remarkable 14 seasons from 1987 and 2000, when the Hawks had 10 wins by less than two goals in games against the Cats, including in three Finals. In the 25 games between the clubs in those years, the Hawks won 20 and Geelong just five (none in close games).

Last season’s Round 4 loss to St Kilda ended a sequence of alternating Round 4 results. Overall, Hawthorn’s Round 4 record is 42 wins, 53 defeats, two draws (1939 and 1996) and one bye (1991). Hawthorn took longer to win in Round 4 than in any other round. It was not until 1941 that the club tasted success after 15 losses and one draw.

The Hawks’ best Round 4 sequence was eight consecutive wins from 1974 to 1981. The last of those was perhaps the most memorable of the sequence, as it featured the first clash between great rival coaches, Allan Jeans at Hawthorn and Kevin Sheedy at Essendon. The Hawks won the Windy Hill encounter by 15 points.

10 years ago, in Round 4 2013, Hawthorn defeated its eventual Grand Final opponent Fremantle by 42 points in Launceston – 18.10.118 to 11.10.76. Grant Birchall had a career-high 37 disposals and secured the three Brownlow votes. Other vote-getters were Shaun Burgoyne and Sam Mitchell, while Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead both kicked four goals.

20 years ago, Round 4 2003 also saw a 42-point win. After an even first half, Hawthorn kicked 11 goals to three after half-time to beat Sydney 17.8.110 to 10.8.68 at the MCG. Peter Everitt and Ben Dixon both booted four goals, with Jade Rawlings, Shane Crawford and Rayden Tallis also among the Hawks’ best.

Both 40 and 60 years ago, Hawthorn kicked 25 behinds. In 1983, this proved extremely costly as Hawthorn 12.25.97 lost to Footscray 17.16.118 at Princes Park. In 1963, it was a sign of a dominant side, with the Hawks 21.25.151 thrashing North Melbourne 11.14.80. John Peck kicked seven goals and the best included Ian Mort, Rod Olsson, Ian Law, Ken Beck and David Parkin.

The individual goal-kicking record for a Hawthorn player versus Geelong is 12 by Jason Dunstall in 1990 and 1992. Michael Moncrieff has the best tally in Round 4, kicking nine goals at Waverley against South Melbourne in 1979.