Aidan Schubert’s debut last Saturday meant Hawthorn has had eight AFL debutants in 2026, its highest number in a season in which the team has made the Finals since there were 10 in 1978.

In the intervening years, there were three seasons (1988, 2014 and 2016) when the Hawks played Finals having had seven VFL-AFL debutants.

Including club debutant Flynn Perez, the total of nine new players in 2026 is the equal most in a Finals-making season since 1978. It is equal with 1996, when the nine comprised five AFL debutants and four club debutants.

Looking at all seasons, the total of eight AFL debutants is the equal highest number (with 2021 and 2022) since there were 10 in 2005.

Jack Gunston is poised to become just the sixth Hawthorn player to kick 50 or more goals in a season on six or more occasions.

Gunston’s previous five 50-goal seasons include 2014, 2015 and 2026 when he reached 50 in the home and away season, plus 2016 and 2018, when he did so in the Finals. Reaching 50 goals in 2026 will see him join Jason Dunstall (12 times), Leigh Matthews (10), Lance Franklin (7), Peter Hudson (6) and Jarryd Roughead (6).

This Friday night, Hawthorn will be hoping to improve on a poor record at the Gabba, which has seen just six wins from 20 games against Brisbane, plus a loss to Essendon in 1981.

Hawthorn played at the Gabba in 16 consecutive seasons from 1993 to 2008, but this week will only be the fifth visit in the past 18 seasons. Hawthorn’s most recent win at the Gabba was in Round 10 2016 when a nine-goal final term clinched a 48-point win – 21.9.135 to 13.9.87. Jordan Lewis, Cyril Rioli and Josh Gibson were among the best.

Overall, Hawthorn and Brisbane have played 57 times, with the Hawks winning 35 and losing 22. Hawthorn won five consecutive games against Brisbane from 2020 to 2024 but lost to the Lions twice last season.

Hawthorn has now used 39 players in 2026, the equal second-highest number in the past five decades, equal with 2022 and only surpassed by 40 in 2020. This is still some way behind the record for the most players the club has used in a VFL-AFL season, which was 44 in both 1940 and 1942.

As noted in Footy Flashbacks last month, the previous highest number of players used in a season when Hawthorn made the Finals was 37 in 1996 and the most in a premiership season was 35 in 2014. Despite the big total number deployed, Hawthorn still has seven individuals who have played every game.

After his 10 Coaches’ votes against North Melbourne, Jai Newcombe now has a total of nine perfect 10s (including two in Finals), equaling his co-captain James Sicily for the most among current Hawks. It was Newcombe’s fourth ‘perfect 10’ at University of Tasmania Stadium.

RD 21 COACHES’ VOTES: Newcombe polls another perfect 10

This week’s match will be played exactly 100 years since Hawthorn’s first VFL-AFL draw.

On 7 August 1926, the season was only up to Round 13 when, in controversial circumstances, the umpire failed to hear the final bell and North Melbourne’s Gerry Donnelly kicked a behind that tied the scores at 10.10.70 apiece. It was only after the all-clear was given that the umpire heard the bell and signalled full time.

Round 22 first appeared on the fixture in 1970 and has been contested every year since, except in the Covid-shortened 2020 season. For most of its existence, Round 22 was the final round of the home and away season. Hawthorn has an exceptionally good 37-18 record from its 55 Round 22 games, including victories in the past three seasons against the Western Bulldogs (2023), Carlton (2024) and Collingwood last season.

20 years ago, in Round 22 2006, Hawthorn finished the season in promising fashion with a 61-point thrashing of Geelong at Docklands – 21.7.133 to 10.12.72. Mark Williams with eight goals and Shane Crawford with 28 disposals and three goals were the stars. It was a day of milestones as John Barker returned for the final game of his career and Brad Sewell’s first career goal made him the 600th individual goalkicker in Hawthorn’s VFL-AFL history.

30 years ago, in Round 22 1996, one of the most famous home and away games in Hawthorn history saw Hawthorn win the ‘merger match’ against Melbourne by one point – 15.12.102 to 15.11.101. Jason Dunstall kicked 10 goals for the Hawks, including bringing up his 100th for the season. The win, combined with a Richmond defeat the following day, allowed Hawthorn to sneak into the Final Eight, something which seemed unlikely when the Hawks only had two wins and a draw after nine games.

40 years ago, in Round 22 1986, Hawthorn completed the home and away season with an 18-4 record by thrashing Footscray at the Western Oval by 70 points – 19.11.125 to 7.13.55. Jason Dunstall kicked six goals, and Richard Loveridge booted a career-high four majors. Despite combining his goals with 33 disposals, Loveridge only got two Brownlow votes, pipped for the three by John Platten with 29 disposals and three goals.

Both Peter Hudson and Jason Dunstall regularly kicked large tallies of goals in Round 22. Hudson kicked 11 (1970), 10 (1971) and seven (1977), while Dunstall booted 12 (1992), 11 (1989) and 10 (1988, 1993 and 1996).

Dunstall holds the club’s individual goal-kicking record against Brisbane, with 11 goals in the first-ever match between the two clubs at Carrara in 1987.

00:30

Doing it OUR WAY

In 2026, we're doing it OUR WAY. Paving a historic path to host our games at the Kennedy Community Centre, OUR WAY. Continuing to commit to the relentless hard work to get us where we want to go, OUR WAY. Honouring those who have come before us and embracing our exciting future, OUR WAY. And always playing with the energy and passion to make the Hawks faithful proud, OUR WAY. To all the brown and gold believers - join us, and let's do it OUR WAY.