As the Hawks prepare for their final game in Launceston this season, hawthornfc.com.au takes a look back at how the team has performed on Tassie soil across 2021.
Hawthorn has ventured down to its home away from home 69 times over the past 21 seasons – five of which have been in 2021.
Tomorrow, the Hawks return for their sixth game this season – marking the most times the team has ever played at the University of Tasmania Stadium in a single year.
Clarko reflects on "magnificent" Tassie moments
Hawthorn’s usual four-game fixture at UTAS Stadium was further bolstered in 2021, with other games rescheduled to the venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria.
The outcome is a far cry from last year where the Hawks made it to Tasmania for only one pre-season match in 2020.
Now with two wins and three losses at the stadium this season, Hawthorn will be looking to bank its third win for 2021 at their Tassie fortress.
Breakdown at UTAS Stadium
Number of games: Six (including Saturday's game)
Most goals kicked in a game: Jacob Koschitzke (5) in Round 6 against Adelaide Crows
Most disposals in a game: Tom Mitchell (39) in Round 17 against Fremantle
Average score: 78 points
Round by Round
Round 6 v Adelaide Crows
Hawks won by 3 points
In their first outing at UTAS Stadium for 2021, the Hawks delighted the Tasmanian crowd with a thrilling three-point comeback win over Adelaide.
In what was the Hawks second victory of the season, young gun Jacob Koschitzke produced a career-best performance, slotting five goals which earned him a Round 6 NAB Rising Star nomination.
The ANZAC Day match also saw midfielder James Cousins make his first appearance of the season after a string of outstanding performances with Box Hill.
Hawthorn trailed by 32 points in the third quarter but finished strong with a 15.12 (102) to 16.3 (99) victory.
Round 9 v North Melbourne
Hawks lost by 7 points
The Hawks’ heartbreaking loss to the Kangaroos handed them their first win of the season.
Hawthorn had their chances, missing the opportunity to bank a precious win after coming out of the blocks hard, booting five goals in the opening quarter before being overrun.
Luke Breust set up a thrilling finish when he reduced the margin to six points with a running goal inside the final two minutes, but the Hawks just couldn’t get over the line.
Despite the result, Chad Wingard's performance was a point of positivity as he recorded game-high tallies of 13 score involvements and four goal assists as well as a team-high five inside 50s, alongside two goals and 21 disposals to his name.
Round 14 v Essendon
Hawks lost by 13 points
In what was a close contest all match, Hawthorn managed to close the gap to just a kick in the final two minutes of the thrilling clash.
It was almost a repeat of Round 1, where the Hawks fought from 40 points down to record a staggering one-point win over the Bombers. But while showing fight, they just couldn't replicate their previous victory.
Despite the scoreboard, the brown and gold still had cause to celebrate, with Lachlan Bramble making his debut in front of a 14,000-plus strong Tassie crowd.
Following promising form at reserves level, Bramble showed some impressive glimpses in his first game, which has since seen him forge a breakout season having played every match since.
Round 17 v Fremantle
Hawks lost by 62 points
In what was Hawthorn's second-biggest loss of the season, this was arguably game that the brown and gold family would rather forget in 2021.
The problems came prior to the bounce as Hawthorn was forced to make a late change with Blake Hardwick withdrawn from the side following hamstring tightness.
In Fremantle's captain Nat Fyfe's 200th match, the Dockers were able to win every quarter as the Hawks struggled to find any momentum in a game that was riddled by further injuries to youngsters Changkuoth Jiath and Jack Scrimshaw.
Hawthorn were best served by Jiath (18 disposals and six rebound 50s) before the flying defender left the ground with a knee injury late in the third term.
Round 20 v Brisbane Lions
Hawks won by 12 points
The win over Brisbane marked one of Hawks' best in 2021.
Coming off the back of a big week in which four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson announced he would be stepping down at season’s end, Hawthorn came out with drive and determination to produce an impressive 12-point win against the finals contenders.
The Hawks were in control right from the opening bounce, showcasing slick ball movement and piling pressure onto Brisbane to emerge victorious in the 14.8(92) to 12.8(80) contest.
The Lions looked timid early, with the Hawks keeping them goalless in the first quarter for the first time in 2021, with Brisbane's quarter-time score of 0.1(1) its lowest first quarter score since Round 8, 2016.
Despite Brisbane staging a final-term comeback, Hawthorn held on to take home the victory with the likes of Chad Wingard (32 touches, two goals) and Jaeger O’Meara (35 disposals, six clearances) dominating the game.
Round 22 v Western Bulldogs
1.45pm at UTAS Stadium on Saturday
Tomorrow will mark the end of an era, as is it looks to be the final game in Tasmania for coach Alastair Clarkson.
This match will also have the Hawks looking to bank a third win in-a-row at their home away from home.
With crowd numbers capped at 10,000 people, the Hawks are excited to be back playing on its home turf in Launceston.
As it currently stands, Saturday’s trip to Tassie will be the final for 2021, but as this season has shown several times you can never be certain where the next game may be.
