This Saturday, Hawthorn will be trying to win four consecutive games for the first time since 2019-20, when the club won the last three games of 2019 and the first match of 2020.

The last time Hawthorn won four in a row in the same season was in 2018 when the Hawks won the last six games of the home and away season. Hawthorn did also have a six-game unbeaten run across 2021-22, finishing the former season with three wins and a draw, and then winning the opening two games of 2022.

Saturday’s narrow victory against GWS continued Hawthorn’s extraordinary record in close games at University of Tasmania Stadium. 

The six-point win was Hawthorn’s tenth by six points or fewer in Launceston, compared to just three defeats (and one draw) in that margin range at the ground. In games decided by 12 points or fewer at University of Tasmania Stadium, Hawthorn has a 16-6 win-loss record.

Will Day has become the ninth current Hawthorn player to receive a perfect 10 coaches’ votes in a game for the club after his best-on-ground performance against the Giants.

Prior to last Saturday, Day’s best was nine votes, which was recorded against the same opponent in Round 15 2021, a remarkable stat given that last week, when Dylan Moore got his first perfect 10, it was also against the same opponent (Adelaide) against which he had previously got nine votes.

This Saturday marks the 40^th birthday of Hawthorn Premiership captain Luke Hodge, who was born on 15 June 1984.

Hodge only played once for Hawthorn on his birthday, celebrating his 23^rd birthday with a 100-point demolition of Carlton at Docklands on a Friday night in 2007.

The existing record attendance for a home and away game between Hawthorn and Richmond is 70,701, recorded in Round 3 2018. The two clubs have only played one Final which was also in 2018, attracting a crowd of 91,446.

With lots of talk about playing 300 games this week, it is worth noting that Hawthorn has the most players in that category. Hawthorn has eight 300-gamers and, when Dustin Martin reaches the milestone, Richmond will join Western Bulldogs in equal second with seven.

Last week’s unchanged team means that Hawthorn has selected an unchanged team on three separate occasions in 2024, having already done so in Rounds 2 and 5. Therefore, 2024 has joined 2006, 2011 and 2017 as modern-day seasons when there have been three or more unchanged teams across the course of the year.

Luke Breust has now equalled his own 2011 record of being the Hawthorn substitute in five consecutive games. Amazingly, across those 10 games, 13 seasons apart, he has scored 12 goals (seven in 2011 and five in 2024), an incredible contribution by a sub. 

Hawthorn has had some long winning sequences against Richmond, including 16 (1985-94) and 10 (1959-64), but overall, the Hawks trail the Tigers 71 to 93, with one draw. The deficit is largely the result of Hawthorn losing its first 21 matches versus Richmond.

In Round 14 encounters, Hawthorn holds a 4-1 advantage over the Tigers, including victories by 101 points (1986) and 58 points (2001) in the most recent Round 14 clashes between the clubs.

Hawthorn has played 95 matches in Round 14, recording 46 wins and 49 losses (having byes in 1993, 1994, 2022 and 2023). The club’s results in Round 14 were poor in its early years, before a breakthrough win against Fitzroy in 1937. Things really began improving in John Kennedy’s coaching era when Hawthorn won 13 of 14, including all 10 in his second period in charge from 1967 to 1976. The Hawks also had nine consecutive Round 14 victories from 2010 to 2018.

10 years ago, in Round 14 2014, Hawthorn made it four consecutive wins under interim coach Brendon Bolton, recording a 29-point win against Collingwood – 17.13.115 to 13.8.86. Luke Breust kicked four goals and received three Brownlow votes.

40 years ago, in Round 14 1984, Hawthorn thrashed St Kilda at Moorabbin by 104 points – 19.20.134 to 4.6.30. Gary Ayres had an outstanding game with a career-high 35 disposals and 12 marks and justly received the three Brownlow votes. However, Leigh Matthews was perhaps unlucky to just get one vote for his 37 disposals and five goals.

50 years ago, in Round 14 1974, the fourth-placed Hawks travelled to Windy Hill to take on seventh-placed Essendon. Hawthorn powered away with a 13.6 to 2.5 second half to win by 80 points - 23.17.155 to 11.9.75. Charlie Grummisch equalled his career-high of five goals, while Peter Crimmins, Don Scott and Michael Tuck all kicked four, with Alan Martello, Leon Rice, Des Meagher and Geoff Ablett also in the best.

Jason Dunstall had an amazing season against Richmond in 1992, booting a club record 17 goals in Round 7, and following it up with a further bag of 12 in Round 22.  In his whole career, Dunstall kicked 111 goals against Richmond, behind only his 116 against the Bulldogs. 

Peter Hudson holds the Hawthorn Round 14 individual goals record, booting 12 against Footscray at Glenferrie in 1968.