Presenting Blast from the Past!

Over the month of September, we will be taking you on a trip down memory lane as we look back at various moments in Hawthorn history that have occurred on the same date.


Today we rewind back to 1987…

Read: Introducing the Dunstall Club

Few games in VFL/AFL history have been more of a rollercoaster than the 1987 preliminary final.

Seeking its first taste of premiership success since 1964, Melbourne had led at every siren.

Up by five points at quarter time, 22 points at the main break, they took the same margin into the final change.

John Northey's Demons even led at the final siren - by four points.

But Gary Buckenara had a free kick 55 metres out.

In what has now become an infamous part of footy folklore, Melbourne's Jim Stynes ran across the mark and incurred a 15-metre penalty, bringing Buckenara close enough to kick the winning goal after the siren.

Hawthorn would go on to lose the grand final to Carlton the following week.

But that moment is arguably more famous than the Blues' premiership as Stynes was forced to learn one of the harshest lessons imaginable.