This week Hawthorn commemorates its first VFL/ AFL game played against Richmond at Glenferrie on Saturday 2 May, 1925.

Hawthorn’s first two goals were kicked by Hector ‘Hec’ Yeomans, the second of which saw the team take a one-point lead against a Richmond team which had played finals the previous season. Hawthorn lost that day by 39 points – 5.8.38 to 11.11.77 - but won three games in the inaugural 1925 season.

Hawthorn’s first 30 years in the competition were a struggle but, after making the finals for the first time in 1957 and winning a first flag in 1961, the club has become the most successful club in the VFL/ AFL over the past 100 years.

The Hawks have won more premierships than any other club in the 100 seasons from 1925 to 2024. Hawthorn’s 13 is one ahead of Melbourne’s 12 in that period, followed by Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond all with 11, then Essendon and Geelong with 10.

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Josh Weddle will this Sunday join the select group of Hawthorn players to have played 50 consecutive games from debut.

Weddle debuted in Round 7 2023 against Western Bulldogs at Docklands and has played every game since, kicking 17 goals, and, despite not tasting victory until his fourth game, has a winning strike rate, 26-23.

The list which Weddle will join is headed by dual premiership defender, David O’Halloran, who played 74 consecutive games from his Round 1 1976 debut until he got injured in the 1978 second semi final, and was forced to miss the 1978 Grand Final.

Others on the list include Ivan McAlpine (67 consecutive games from debut), Harold Albiston (60), John Platten (59), John O’Mahony (56), Aaron Lord (53), Cam McPherson (52) and Stephen Gilham (50). McAlpine, Albiston, Lord and Gilham had all previously played for other VFL/ AFL clubs.

AFL records credit star early 1960s Hawthorn rover, Ian Law, with playing 100 consecutive games from his debut in Round 12 1960 until 1965, but this includes state games. This means his actual number of consecutive games for Hawthorn from debut was 38, until he did not play for the Hawks in Round 12 1962, instead representing Victoria that day.

Jack Gunston has had his best start to a season in terms of goals of any year in his illustrious AFL career. After missing the first two games, he has kicked 17 goals in the first five games he has played (starting as the sub in his first game), which has beaten his previous best of 13 goals in his first five games in both 2014 and 2015.

It is also the second highest figure that Gunston has had after Round 7, only beaten by 2014 when he had reached 19 goals after Round 7 but, in that instance, he had played all seven games.

Gunston has also received coaches' votes in three or more consecutive games for the third time in his career. Over the past three matches, the coaches have given Gunston 4, 2 and 4 votes. His best streak was four consecutive games from Rounds 7 to 10 in 2016 when he polled in four consecutive games (7, 4, 6 and 3 votes), with his other run of three occurring from Round 16 to Round 18 in 2015 (6, 10 and 2 votes).

Having beaten the Tigers twice last season (in Rounds 14 and 23), Hawthorn has the opportunity this Sunday to record three consecutive against Richmond for the first time since 2009-11.

Hawthorn has had some long winning sequences against Richmond, including 16 (1985-94) and 10 (1959-64), but overall, the Hawks trail the Tigers 73 to 93, with one draw. The deficit of 20 is the result of Hawthorn losing its first 21 matches versus Richmond.

The most recent occasion that the Hawks and Tigers clashed in Round 8 was a famous encounter in 2010 when Sam Mitchell laid a match-saving tackle.

Hawthorn went into Round 8 2010 on a six-game losing streak, having not won since Round 1. The Hawks were taking on Richmond, which had made an even worse start to the season, being 0-7 with a percentage of 49.5, so it really was a must-win game.

A Sunday afternoon MCG crowd of 41,563 saw Hawthorn trail early but then maintain a narrow lead for most of the day. When Cyril Rioli goaled in time-on of the last quarter, it made the margin 15 points, but two quick goals to Richmond produced a most nervous finish. It took a desperate Sam Mitchell tackle to save the game, with Hawthorn winning 13.11.89 to 13.8.86.

The game marked the Hawthorn debuts of two players recruited from other clubs – Wayde Skipper (who proved a valuable player for the rest of 2010) and Shaun Burgoyne. Burgoyne, who wore a helmet that day, went onto a stellar Hawks’ career, playing 250 games, including three Premierships.

The scrappy Round 8 win against Richmond kicked off a run of seven consecutive victories through to Round 14 and ultimately a home and away season which produced 12 wins and a draw and a spot in the 2010 Finals Series.

Hawthorn is narrowly behind on the Round 8 ledger, having recorded 49 wins and 50 defeats (with a bye in 1992). After defeating GWS in Round 8 2019, Hawthorn endured four Round 8 losses, before celebrating victory against the Western Bulldogs at Docklands in Round 8 last season.

20 years ago, in Round 8 2005, Hawthorn recorded the second win of Alastair Clarkson’s coaching career, defeating Melbourne by 39 points. Mark Williams starred up forward kicking 8.5 while in the midfield Luke Hodge (35 disposals) and Sam Mitchell (28) were in top form.

50 years ago, in Round 8 1975, Hawthorn thrashed Geelong at Waverley by 73 points – 17.11.113 to 5.10.40 – with a particularly dominant last quarter adding 7.3 to 0.3. The best players included Peter Knights, John Hendrie, Kelvin Matthews and Michael Tuck.

70 years ago, in Round 8 1955, Hawthorn secured a two-point win against Richmond – 9.8.62 to 8.12.60. Clayton ‘Candles’ Thompson kicked four goals while, at the other end of the ground, Clive Philp was outstanding, including taking a late match saving mark after the Hawks had snatched the lead.

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.

The big names dominate the leading goal-kickers in Round 8. Peter Hudson booted 13 in this round in 1970 (against South Melbourne), while Dunstall kicked 10 in 1994 (against Brisbane).