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 2012…


Throughout the early to mid 1990s, Hawthorn found itself in a dire financial state so much so that a merger between the Hawks and Melbourne had become a realistic proposition in 1996.

There were clear arguments on both sides, with three-time premiership Hawk Don Scott leading the charge against the proposal.

Scott became the founder of the "Operation Payback" campaign, which was ultimately successful in its efforts to prevent Hawthorn from merging with Melbourne.

Read: Buddy's stage

The 302-game Hawthorn champion rallied many supporters and former Hawthorn players in opposition to the proposed Melbourne Hawks formation.

On the 10th of September 2012, Scott appeared on Fox Footy's Open Mike to give his account of the fateful night that ended the chances of the merger.