On Thursday night, Hawthorn will be endeavouring to win seven consecutive games for the first time in a decade.

The current sequence of six consecutive victories has equalled a run of six from Rounds 18 to 23 in 2018. If it stretches to seven against Collingwood, it will be the best winning sequence since the Hawks won nine in a row from Rounds 10 to 19 in 2016 (with a bye in Round 15).

Last Saturday, Tom Barrass kicked his first Hawthorn goal in game number 32, the most games for a first goal in brown and gold since Sam Frost kicked his first (and only) Hawthorn goal in his 48^th game in Round 10 2022. Like Barrass, Frost’s first was also kicked at University of Tasmania Stadium against a Queensland team, in his case, Brisbane Lions.

The furthest into a Hawthorn career for an inaugural goal was 127 games, which is when Josh Gibson kicked his first in 2016, breaking the longstanding 98-game record which Len Crane had set in 1957. The most games in a complete Hawthorn career without a single goal is 107 by 1950s defender, Alf Hughes.

Harry Morrison’s return to the team against Gold Coast saw him play game number 103 in jumper number 1 (after 22 games in number 35) equalling 1961 Premiership player, Les Kaine, with the second most games in the number. The only player ahead of Morrison and Kaine is 1991 Premiership player Ray Jencke who played 188 games in number 1 (after six games in number 42).

Over the past two weeks, three sons of former Hawks have featured in the team. The three father-son pairings all sit in the top ten for most games played by such combinations with Scott and Finn Maginness on 191 games; Paul and Calsher Dear on 151; and Luke and Will McCabe on 139.

Overall, Hawthorn has won 72 times and Collingwood 101 from 173 meetings, the deficit of 29 being a massive improvement from when it was 56 in 1974 (15-71).

Recent results between Hawthorn and Collingwood have alternated, with the Hawks winning five of the past nine encounters. 12 of the past 13 games between Hawthorn and Collingwood have been won by the home team. The Hawks last won an away game against Collingwood in Round 14 2015, but have only played four since then, two at the MCG (2017 and 2025), plus at Sydney Showground (2020) and Adelaide Oval (2024).

Hawthorn is level on the Round 8 ledger, having recorded 50 wins and 50 defeats (with a bye in 1992). After defeating GWS in 2019, Hawthorn endured four Round 8 losses, before celebrating victories against the Western Bulldogs at Docklands in 2024 and Richmond in Round 8 last season.

10 years ago, in Round 8 2016, Hawthorn comfortably defeated Fremantle in Launceston by 41 points – 17.14.116 to 11.9.75. Luke Breust and Jack Gunston both kicked three goals, with Jordan Lewis and Isaac Smith among the best.

30 years ago, in Round 8 1996, the Hawks recorded just their second win of the season (with one draw), with a comprehensive victory against Melbourne at Waverley by 51 points – 19.8.122 to 10.11.71. Jason Dunstall was back to his best with eight goals, being joined in the Brownlow votes by a pair of other veterans, John Platten and Chris Langford.

40 years ago, in Round 8 1986, Hawthorn supporters had the strange experience of having Leigh Matthews in the opposing camp, coaching Collingwood against his former club for the first time. The two clubs met at Waverley in front of 26,032 with the Hawks recording a comfortable 45-point win – 15.14.104 to 8.11.59.

The win was made more meritorious by the fact that by the start of the final quarter Hawthorn had only 17 fit players. Both Rod Lester-Smith and Colin Robertson were finished for the day, and Peter Russo struggled to run or kick effectively. Hawthorn’s best included Terry Wallace, Gary Buckenara and Robert Dipierdomenico. And as if the novelty of Matthews coaching Collingwood was not enough, Hawthorn fans also had to adjust to seeing Dermott Brereton spend most of the game at centre half-back, rather than centre half-forward.

50 years ago, in Round 8 1976, Hawthorn defeated South Melbourne by 60 points at Princes Park – 20.16.136 to 11.10.76. For the first time, Hawthorn had as many as 13 individual goalkickers, headed by Michael Moncrieff with four and Leigh Matthews three. However, it was the defenders, Peter Knights and Kelvin Moore, who headed the list of best players.

60 years ago, in Round 8 1966, Hawthorn played its last game at Fitzroy’s old home ground at Brunswick St. The Hawks won by 19 points – 11.14.80 to 8.13.61. This was Hawthorn’s fourth win in five games at the venue in the 1960s, but it had been slim pickings there in earlier decades, with Hawthorn’s overall record at the ground seven wins, one draw and 21 losses in 29 games.

It’s a historic night coming up for the Box Hill Hawks on Friday, playing the 500^th game since the commencement of the Hawthorn and Box Hill alignment in 2000. It has produced three Premierships (2001, 2013 and 2018) and an overall winning percentage of almost 60 percent.

Jason Dunstall holds the Hawthorn record for most goals in a game versus Collingwood, having booted 11 in both 1989 and 1990. Next best has been Michael Moncrieff’s 10 in 1976.

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).