Members of the 1971 premiership team, who won the club’s second flag, gathered for their first reunion since COVID-19.

The ’71 team twice postponed their 50^th reunion due to unforeseen difficulties.

Fourteen members of the team that beat St Kilda 54 years ago in what many consider to be one of the roughest, toughest and bruising grand finals, together with family members of the three deceased players Peter Crimmins, Des Meagher and Ken Beck, met at Roccella Italian restaurant in East Melbourne for a dinner celebration after the Hawks-Melbourne game at the MCG.

Michael Porter and Robert Day flew in for the occasion from Sydney and Adelaide, respectively.

Led by co-conspirators Bruce Stevenson and Ray Wilson, the night was full of nostalgia, tall stories and wonderful memories of how well they all played - particularly after half-time.

Highlights of the evening included a guest appearance from Will Day, who joined his grandfather, Robert Day, to chat about the potential of the current team and Will’s disappointing run with injuries.

Current Coach Sam Mitchell also appeared and presented a fascinating insight into the team’s prospects with his renowned eye for detail.

The ’71 lads listened intently and then compared today’s side with how they prepared for a game.

Mike Porter had the audience in fits of laughter with howls of encouragement to him as he gave a very colourful account of just how he suffered under the gruelling training regime of their beloved coach, John Kennedy Snr.

Ray Wilson, wearing the late Ken Beck’s number four guernsey, presented a wonderful imitation of Beck’s now infamous reunion quizzes.

He gave the answer to his questions first, then ask what the correct question was for the given answer. A hilarious footy version of ‘Jeopardy’!

Back in the 1970s, when the players got together for in-house gatherings, they were all expected to sing a favourite song.  Ken Beck’s song of choice was ‘Jake the Peg’.  He would wear a false beard and would add a third false leg and sing his favourite ditty.

In a moving tribute to Beck, Big Al Martello dressed in Beck’s costume and led the enthralled audience in a sing-along of Beckie’s favourite song.

1971 was the year of the Hawks. The team won 21 out of the 24 games played, the most by any VFL club in one season. This included the two tough battles against St Kilda in the second semi-final and the Grand Final to take the premiership.

After winning the VFL premiership, the club then defeated the SAFL Premiers, North Adelaide, in Adelaide and the following week, won three games in a knock-out series in Perth to win the Australian Championship.

The final tally was 28 games for 25 wins and three losses.

For the record, Peter Crimmins, Kevn Heath, Peter Hudson, Alan Martello and Don Scott played in all 28 games.

Many judges of football consider the 1971 team to be perhaps Hawthorn’s greatest team.