This round marks the 40^th anniversary of Hawthorn’s first-ever night game for Premiership points.

Lights had been installed at the MCG before the 1985 season, but Hawthorn did not play its first night game in the ‘day competition’ until Round 2, 1986.

The Hawks marked the occasion with a win, keeping their composure to record a hard-fought three-point victory against North Melbourne, after the Kangaroos had led at every change. Michael Byrne kicked the winning goal, while Russell Greene was best-on-ground, as the Hawks prevailed, 17.9.111 to 16.12.108, in front of 26,456 fans.

This round also marks the 70^th anniversary of what remains the largest three-quarter time deficit Hawthorn has overturned in its history. In Round 2 1956, the Hawks came from 25 points down at the final change to beat Richmond at Punt Road.

The Tigers led 12.12 to 9.5 at three-quarter-time, but whatever Hawks’ coach Jack Hale said to his troops at the final interval certainly had the desired effect. They unleashed a 7.5 to 0.1 quarter, which the following Monday’s Sun described as ‘the best burst of all-field play the Hawks have produced for many years.’ The Hawks won the game by 21 points – 16.10.106 to 12.13.85 - and Coleraine recruit Les Kaine had a memorable second game, kicking three final quarter goals in just his second game.

James Sicily has moved into the top 50 of most games played for Hawthorn, the game against Essendon taking him to 181 games and displacing Angelo Lekkas (180 games) from the top 50. Just six of the players in the top 50 of the career games list for Hawthorn are not Premiership players. Sicily and Blake Hardwick will be hoping to reduce that number to four.

Nick Watson’s nine votes in the Coaches Award for his excellent performance against Essendon are the most he has received in a game, surpassing the eight votes he received against GWS in Round 3 last season.

One more vote would have given Watson a perfect 10 to join the nine of his current teammates who have achieved that feat. Jack Gunston did so for the first time in 2015, and Lloyd Meek was the most recent to join the celebrated group with his perfect 10 game against Collingwood in Round 22 last season.

Hawthorn has played South Melbourne / Sydney 173 times, recording 95 wins, 76 defeats and two draws (in 1956 and 1968). Hawthorn beat the Swans 13 consecutive times from 1971 to 1977, and 11 times in a row from 1981 to 1986.

The Hawks won the most recent meeting between the clubs in Opening Round last season but have lost its two most recent MCG games against Sydney (in 2018 and 2024), with the most recent MCG victory coming in 2017. In the 2017 season, Sydney won 15 of 17 games from Round 7 to the Elimination Final, the only two defeats being against Hawthorn, at the SCG in Round 10 and the MCG in Round 19.

The 2017 MCG game saw the Hawks maintain a handy lead for most of the night but when the Swans kicked four consecutive goals to take the lead early in the last quarter, things looked ominous. However, goals to Liam Shiels and Jarryd Roughead steadied the ship and the Hawks won by six points – 10.12.72 to 10.6.66. The Coaches gave 10 votes to Ben McEvoy, whereas the three Brownlow votes went to Roughead. There was more consensus about Shiels, who received seven coaches' votes and two Brownlow votes.

Hawthorn has played 101 games in Round 2 for 41 wins, 59 losses and one draw (in 1968). However, in years ending in 6, the Hawks have a positive 7-3 Round 2 record.

10 years ago, in Round 2 2016, the Hawks defeated West Coast by 46 points, the same margin as the previous season’s Grand Final between the clubs. Cyril Rioli and James Sicily both kicked four goals, but the day belonged to Josh Gibson, who was a clear best-on-ground with 44 disposals, and also kicked his first Hawthorn goal in his 127^th game for the club.

50 years ago, in Round 2 1976, the Hawks gained a modicum of revenge for defeat in the previous season’s Grand Final, beating North Melbourne by 22 points at Princes Park. Michael Moncrieff kicked seven goals and Leigh Matthews five as the Hawks won 20.11.131 to 16.13.109, the victory set up by an eight-goal second quarter.

60 years ago, in Round 2 1966, Hawthorn defeated Melbourne in a low-scoring game at Glenferrie by 27 points – 7.14.56 to 3.11.29 – a first win under new coach Peter O’Donohue. The Age rated Ross Growcott as Hawthorn’s best player, but he clearly did not get the Brownlow votes, as he did not get any in his 53-game career.

90 years ago, in Round 2 1936, Hawthorn defeated an inaccurate Footscray by five points – 11.7.73 to 8.20.68. Jack Green kicked three goals, while Viv Randall on the wing was rated best-on-ground and Leo Murphy admirably led a resolute backline.

100 years ago, in Round 2 1926, Hawthorn recorded the club’s first away win since joining the League the previous season, defeating North Melbourne at Arden Street – 5.12.42 to 5.8.38. Ted Pool and Mick Ennis both booted two goals, with Pool rated among the best with Stuart Stewart and Tom Everuss.

Hawthorn will be looking to overcome its history in games played on 19 March. In two previous matches on the date, the Hawks have suffered a pair of heavy defeats, losing to Carlton by 42 points in 2000 and to Essendon by 59 points in 2023.

Peter Hudson holds the individual goals record for Hawthorn against the Swans, twice kicking 13, in both 1969 and 1970. Jason Dunstall holds the Hawthorn Round 2 record, kicking nine twice – in 1988 versus Richmond and in 1991 against Sydney.