This week Essendon will become the 15th different opponent which Hawthorn has played at University of Tasmania Stadium.
It will leave Collingwood and Melbourne as the only two clubs which Hawthorn has not played in Launceston.
The Hawks have a positive record in first games against different opponents at University of Tasmania Stadium, having won 10 and lost just four, a record they will be hoping can be further improved against Essendon on Sunday.
This Sunday will be the third occasion when Hawthorn has played Essendon outside Victoria and oddly all three matches have been in Round 14. The previous two occasions were at the Gabba in 1981 and at the Adelaide Oval in 2020. Essendon won both games, by 18 points in 1981 and by 16 points last season.
However, Hawthorn has had some good wins against Essendon in Round 14, most recently in 2011, when the Hawks won by 65 points – 23.8.146 to 12.9.81. The game ended as a contest in the second quarter when Hawthorn kicked 8.2 to 1.1 to lead by 61 points at half-time. Sam Mitchell, Grant Birchall and Isaac Smith got the Brownlow votes.
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There was plenty of recognition that Jai Newcombe’s 14 tackles last Friday night was a record for any AFL player on debut, but it also placed him high on the all-time Hawthorn list. Liam Shiels is responsible for five of the eight times a Hawk has had 14 or more tackles in a game, including the record of 17 against West Coast at Subiaco in Round 19 2015. The other two Hawks with 14 or more tackles in a game are Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne, so Newcombe has joined elite company.
Only one player, Cameron Stokes (20 games, 2008-10), wore number 44 between John Platten’s retirement at the end of 1997 and 2016. However, the number 44 has now been worn by three different players in the past five seasons. Conor Glass wore number 44 in 10 games in 2017-18 (before graduating to 13); last season Damon Greaves wore 44 in three games (before shifting to 30 this season); and now there is Newcombe.
Having avoided doing so in Round 1, Hawthorn will again be trying not to lose for the 100th time versus Essendon. Essendon has 99 wins in the head-to-head between the clubs, compared to 66 wins for the Hawks (they have never played a draw). The only opponent against which Hawthorn has lost 100 times is Carlton.
Hawthorn has played 94 matches in Round 14, recording 46 wins and 48 losses (and had the bye in both 1993 and 1994). The club’s results in Round 14 were poor in its early years, before a breakthrough win against Fitzroy in Round 14 1937. By 1954, the Hawks had still only won four Round 14 games, but things began improving in John Kennedy’s coaching era when Hawthorn won 13 of 14, including all ten in his second period in charge from 1967 to 1976. The Hawks had victories in nine consecutive games in the round from 2010 to 2018.
20 years ago, in Round 14 2001, fourth-placed Hawthorn took on third-placed Richmond in a big game in front of 52,189 at the MCG. Richmond led at quarter-time but by half-time, the Hawks had a two-point lead. Hawthorn then exploded with a 13.7 to 4.5 second half to win by 58 points – 20.9.129 to 10.11.71. Nathan Thompson, Shane Crawford and Angelo Lekkas headed a long list of best players.
30 years ago, in Round 14 1991, Hawthorn outscored Melbourne 6.6 to 1.1 in the opening term, and maintained the advantage all game, winning 19.13.127 to 11.11.77. Paul Hudson and Tony Hall each kicked four goals and Darren Jarman had a brilliant 34-disposal game.
50 years ago, in Round 14 1971, top team Hawthorn scored a 19-point win against lowly Geelong at Kardinia Park - 15.13.103 to 13.6.84. Peter Hudson kicked seven goals and Leigh Matthews booted three.
60 years ago, in Round 14 1961, Hawthorn played in a match The Herald’s Alf Brown described as one of the best he had seen for years, with a wonderful goal by Ian Mort securing Hawthorn’s a seven-point win at Fitzroy, 13.16.94 to 12.15.87.
After a strong second quarter, Hawthorn had a nine-point lead at the final change but Fitzroy fought back and, late in the term, a 65-yard Owen Abraham drop kick goal levelled the scores. Fitzroy then conceded a behind, which set the scene for Mort’s winning goal.
Several Hawthorn defenders had outstanding games, with Les Kaine described as being in ‘magnificent form’, Cam McPherson ‘beat a string of opponents’, while Sted Hay’s close-checking tactics kept Abraham in check. Further up the ground Ian Law, Colin Youren, Brendan Edwards and John Peck did well.
This result, combined with Melbourne’s loss to Essendon at the MCG, saw the Hawks go to the top of the ladder for the first time in the 1961 season. Top position on the ladder had until this time been a rare occurrence in the club’s history, the only previous instances being after Round 1 1940 and five times in the first half of the 1957 season.
Jason Dunstall holds the club individual goal-kicking record against Essendon with 12 in 1992. Other big bags against the Bombers were 11 by Leigh Matthews in 1973 and 10 by Michael Moncrieff in 1972. Peter Hudson holds the Round 14 record with 12 goals kicked against Footscray at Glenferrie in 1968.
