The 2026 Hawks have joined some illustrious predecessors by bouncing back to win four consecutive games after losing the opening match of the season.

The four previous occasions when this has occurred were 1988, 1989, 2013 and 2016, three of which went onto become premiership seasons.

In those three, Hawthorn kept the winning streak going in Round 6 whereas the non-premiership year (2016) saw a Round 6 defeat so, if history is a guide, this week’s game assumes greater importance.

We should also give an honourable mention to the 1939 team which recorded three wins and a draw in Rounds 2 to 5 after a Round 1 defeat.

This Saturday, Hawthorn has the opportunity to win 10 consecutive home games for the eighth time in its VFL-AFL history.

The current sequence of nine successive home victories began against Adelaide in Launceston in Round 14 last season and includes the Gather Round win against the Bulldogs, which was classified as a Hawthorn home game. There is still a way to go to equal the all-time club record of 21 consecutive home wins recorded from 1987 to 1989.

Sam Mitchell will this week move into third place on the list of consecutive games in charge at the commencement of a Hawthorn coaching career. The game against Port Adelaide will be his 102^nd, putting him ahead of Jack Hale who coached 101 consecutive games from Round 1 1952 until Round 10 1957.

Hale missed Round 11 1957 due to a car accident on his way to Glenferrie for a game against Collingwood. Hale’s wife was injured in the accident, and he accompanied her to hospital, leaving captain, John Kennedy Snr. to take over the coaching duties for the day.

The only longer Hawthorn coaching sequences from commencement are those of Allan Jeans and Alastair Clarkson.

Hawthorn has played Port Adelaide twice previously at Docklands losing both encounters, by 22 points in 2015 and by 34 points in 2021.

Hawthorn has not played an MCG home game against Port since 2011, although the clubs did meet in a thrilling Preliminary Final at the venue in 2014.

Hawthorn and Port Adelaide have played 43 times, with the Hawks winning 18 and the Power 25. After four consecutive Port wins, Hawthorn won the most recent encounter in Launceston in Round 19 last season.

Hawthorn’s greatest winning margin against any opponent, 165 points, and its highest score this century, 31.11.197, were recorded against Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 21 2011. The Hawks had 15 individual goalkickers headed by Lance Franklin with eight and Cyril Rioli six, with Sam Mitchell also outstanding with 33 disposals and two goals.

Following his outstanding performance against the Bulldogs, Jai Newcombe has now recorded the perfect 10 Coaches votes on six occasions, four times in home and away games and twice in Finals.

Hawthorn has won its last six games at Docklands, the club’s second longest winning streak at the venue, only exceeded by a sequence of 10 consecutive victories from 2011 to 2014.

Overall, in Round 6, Hawthorn has played 97 times (having had four byes), winning 43 times and losing 54.

40 years ago, in Round 6 1986, Hawthorn secured its first victory against Essendon since the 1984 Second Semi, winning at Waverley Park by 24 points – 19.12.126 to 15.12.102. Perhaps inspired by the presence of the 1961 Premiership team celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their success, the Hawks quickly took control of the game, at one point in the third quarter leading by 68 points. Skipper Michael Tuck, Richard Loveridge and Peter Schwab received the Brownlow votes. 

70 years ago, in Round 6 1956, the Hawks made it a 4-2 start to the season with a thrilling three-point victory against Footscray in front of 22,000 fans at Glenferrie. Hawthorn won 10.14.74 to 10.11.71, with Kevin Coghlan starring, ably assisted by Allan Woodley and John O’Mahony.

80 years ago, in Round 6 1946, Hawthorn recorded its first win for the season, defeating eventual Grand Finalist Melbourne by 15 points – 16.10.106 to 13.13.91. The Hawks set up the win with a 4.4 to 0.3 second quarter but had to rally after Melbourne hit the lead in the final term. As The Age described it, ‘when Albiston got the goal to regain the lead, Hawthorn supporters cheered lustily and when Dalkin got the next, to clinch the issue, the grandstand virtually rocked’. Albert ‘Butch’ Prior kicked six goals, with the best headed by Jim Bohan and Col Austen.

Lance Franklin recorded the highest goals tally by a Hawthorn player against Port Adelaide with eight at the MCG in 2011. Franklin and Jason Dunstall share the Hawthorn individual goals record for Round 6. Dunstall kicked nine goals in both 1992 and 1993, versus Collingwood and Adelaide respectively, a tally equalled by Franklin against Essendon in 2007.