Tasmanian Hawthorn supporters have certainly had their money’s worth in 2007 with the four visiting teams currently being the other four of the top five on the ladder.
Hawthorn’s overall record at Aurora Stadium is now 10 wins and 5 defeats. One of those five defeats was in the only previous clash with Port Adelaide in Round 10, 2002, the 40 point margin remaining the Hawks heaviest defeat in Tasmania. Playing at Aurora Stadium certainly holds no fears for Port Adelaide, which also beat St Kilda in three out of four matches those two clubs played there.
Interestingly, Hawthorn has kicked to the south end of Aurora Stadium first in the previous three matches there this season.
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Last season, Hawthorn kicked to the City end first in all six matches at the MCG. This season, Hawthorn kicked to the Punt Road end first in five of its eight games at the MCG.
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Last Saturday, Hawthorn had an unchanged side for the first time in 2007. Twice previously, in Rounds 9 and 12, the Hawks originally had selected the same side, but then made late changes.
Last season, Hawthorn had four unchanged sides which was the highest number in recent years. There have been 22 unchanged sides in the past 20 seasons and when going into games with an unchanged team the Hawks have won 14 and lost 8.
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This Sunday’s match will be the 16th between the Hawks and the Power since the latter entered the AFL in 1997. Victory in Round 10 this season improved Hawthorn’s poor record against Port to 5 wins and 11 defeats.
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There was a Round 20 played in 1945 and there has been one every year since 1968. In 1945, 1968 and 1969 it was the final round of the home and away season. Overall in Round 20, Hawthorn has won 23 and lost 17. The Hawks had Round 20 wins in both 2005 and 2006, both against Essendon.
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Two of the three biggest bags of goals by a Hawk in Round 20 were against Essendon. Michael Moncrieff kicked 10 in 1972 and Jason Dunstall 12 in 1992. The only other 10 goal plus haul in Round 20 was Dunstall’s 11 versus Collingwood in 1990.
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1957 – Fifty Years On
Round 18, 1957
Saturday, 24 August, 1957 at Western Oval
Footscray 8.11.59 d. Hawthorn 7.15.57
Having secured its first ever place in a VFL Finals Series the previous Saturday, Hawthorn still had the incentive of knowing that victory over mid-table Footscray would secure the double chance.
There were several changes to the team from the one that had beaten Essendon. Brendan Edwards and Garry Young went out through injury, a boil on a leg and ankle injury respectively. John Peck returned, after an X-ray showed that the fracture in his wrist had mended, while John Fisher made his debut as 20th man. The team formed a guard of honour to welcome Len Crane onto the ground in his 100th game for the club.
For much of the game the Hawks continued in fine form. Several newspapers commented on the Hawks handball, describing it variously as “accurate”, “brilliant” and used to “perfection”. Terry Ingersoll mounted a challenge for Garry Young’s place in the side for the finals by booting three goals.
With a 31 point lead at the final change the club’s long-suffering supporters were confident that the club’s fist final would be a Second Semi against Melbourne. However, the Bulldogs had other ideas and a 5.4 to 0.1 final quarter consigned Hawthorn to the sudden death First Semi against Carlton.
The Sun on the Monday after the game led its back page with the claim that a “king hit” from “an experienced Hawthorn defender” against Ted Whitten early in the last quarter had inspired the Bulldogs. Certainly, there was some evidence that the Hawthorn defence was rattled when, after Whitten had marked later in the term, three defenders covered Jack Collins, allowing Whitten to pass to Costello who marked and goaled to bring the Dogs within four points. The home team then took the lead when in time-on Collins outmarked Don Gent and kicked truly from 30 yards.
Hawthorn had the opportunity to regain the lead when 19th man Les Kaine passed to Ron Cabble just 25 yards out and almost directly in front. Cabble missed; his behind bringing up the Hawks’ only score for the quarter.
Hawthorn had won 11 games, including five of six matches against its fellow finalists. Yet, it had lost 6 of 12 to teams outside the Four. The top two (Melbourne and Essendon) were the only sides that Hawthorn had beaten twice. As the news of the Hawks’ defeat filtered through to Windy Hill, the Dons slammed on a couple of late goals to ensure that they had a narrow percentage lead to take them into the Second Semi. Both Kevin Hogan in The Sun and Percy Beames in The Age opined that Hawthorn’s slipping to third had boosted Melbourne’s chances of winning a third consecutive premiership.
While the two newspapers may have been in agreement on the impact of the result on the outcome of the premiership, there were wildly divergent on who had been the better players for the Hawks in their defeat. The Sun thought the best Hawthorn player was Ray Yeoman who “gave a dashing display on the wing” and continued by saying that his “pace, elusiveness and play on tactics gave him unquestioned control on his flank”. The Age found no space for him in a list of seven best players and said in its match report that he was beaten by his opponent.
Another to receive conflicting reports was Geoff Howells. In The Sun he was praised for having effectively covered Ted Whitten for three quarters, while The Age reported that Whitten had been too mobile for him. The only player about whom there was consensus was Roy Simmonds.
Despite the disappointment of final round defeat, Hawthorn supporters were able to look forward to Finals’ football for the first time since it contested the VFA Finals in 1923.
Footscray 0.1 3.5 3.7 8.11.59
Hawthorn 2.4 4.7 7.14 7.15.57
Goals: Ingersoll 3, Shelton, Simmonds, Arthur, M. Young.
Attendance: 25,436
Hawthorn’s overall record at Aurora Stadium is now 10 wins and 5 defeats. One of those five defeats was in the only previous clash with Port Adelaide in Round 10, 2002, the 40 point margin remaining the Hawks heaviest defeat in Tasmania. Playing at Aurora Stadium certainly holds no fears for Port Adelaide, which also beat St Kilda in three out of four matches those two clubs played there.
Interestingly, Hawthorn has kicked to the south end of Aurora Stadium first in the previous three matches there this season.
***********
Last season, Hawthorn kicked to the City end first in all six matches at the MCG. This season, Hawthorn kicked to the Punt Road end first in five of its eight games at the MCG.
***********
Last Saturday, Hawthorn had an unchanged side for the first time in 2007. Twice previously, in Rounds 9 and 12, the Hawks originally had selected the same side, but then made late changes.
Last season, Hawthorn had four unchanged sides which was the highest number in recent years. There have been 22 unchanged sides in the past 20 seasons and when going into games with an unchanged team the Hawks have won 14 and lost 8.
***********
This Sunday’s match will be the 16th between the Hawks and the Power since the latter entered the AFL in 1997. Victory in Round 10 this season improved Hawthorn’s poor record against Port to 5 wins and 11 defeats.
************
There was a Round 20 played in 1945 and there has been one every year since 1968. In 1945, 1968 and 1969 it was the final round of the home and away season. Overall in Round 20, Hawthorn has won 23 and lost 17. The Hawks had Round 20 wins in both 2005 and 2006, both against Essendon.
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Two of the three biggest bags of goals by a Hawk in Round 20 were against Essendon. Michael Moncrieff kicked 10 in 1972 and Jason Dunstall 12 in 1992. The only other 10 goal plus haul in Round 20 was Dunstall’s 11 versus Collingwood in 1990.
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1957 – Fifty Years On
Round 18, 1957
Saturday, 24 August, 1957 at Western Oval
Footscray 8.11.59 d. Hawthorn 7.15.57
Having secured its first ever place in a VFL Finals Series the previous Saturday, Hawthorn still had the incentive of knowing that victory over mid-table Footscray would secure the double chance.
There were several changes to the team from the one that had beaten Essendon. Brendan Edwards and Garry Young went out through injury, a boil on a leg and ankle injury respectively. John Peck returned, after an X-ray showed that the fracture in his wrist had mended, while John Fisher made his debut as 20th man. The team formed a guard of honour to welcome Len Crane onto the ground in his 100th game for the club.
For much of the game the Hawks continued in fine form. Several newspapers commented on the Hawks handball, describing it variously as “accurate”, “brilliant” and used to “perfection”. Terry Ingersoll mounted a challenge for Garry Young’s place in the side for the finals by booting three goals.
With a 31 point lead at the final change the club’s long-suffering supporters were confident that the club’s fist final would be a Second Semi against Melbourne. However, the Bulldogs had other ideas and a 5.4 to 0.1 final quarter consigned Hawthorn to the sudden death First Semi against Carlton.
The Sun on the Monday after the game led its back page with the claim that a “king hit” from “an experienced Hawthorn defender” against Ted Whitten early in the last quarter had inspired the Bulldogs. Certainly, there was some evidence that the Hawthorn defence was rattled when, after Whitten had marked later in the term, three defenders covered Jack Collins, allowing Whitten to pass to Costello who marked and goaled to bring the Dogs within four points. The home team then took the lead when in time-on Collins outmarked Don Gent and kicked truly from 30 yards.
Hawthorn had the opportunity to regain the lead when 19th man Les Kaine passed to Ron Cabble just 25 yards out and almost directly in front. Cabble missed; his behind bringing up the Hawks’ only score for the quarter.
Hawthorn had won 11 games, including five of six matches against its fellow finalists. Yet, it had lost 6 of 12 to teams outside the Four. The top two (Melbourne and Essendon) were the only sides that Hawthorn had beaten twice. As the news of the Hawks’ defeat filtered through to Windy Hill, the Dons slammed on a couple of late goals to ensure that they had a narrow percentage lead to take them into the Second Semi. Both Kevin Hogan in The Sun and Percy Beames in The Age opined that Hawthorn’s slipping to third had boosted Melbourne’s chances of winning a third consecutive premiership.
While the two newspapers may have been in agreement on the impact of the result on the outcome of the premiership, there were wildly divergent on who had been the better players for the Hawks in their defeat. The Sun thought the best Hawthorn player was Ray Yeoman who “gave a dashing display on the wing” and continued by saying that his “pace, elusiveness and play on tactics gave him unquestioned control on his flank”. The Age found no space for him in a list of seven best players and said in its match report that he was beaten by his opponent.
Another to receive conflicting reports was Geoff Howells. In The Sun he was praised for having effectively covered Ted Whitten for three quarters, while The Age reported that Whitten had been too mobile for him. The only player about whom there was consensus was Roy Simmonds.
Despite the disappointment of final round defeat, Hawthorn supporters were able to look forward to Finals’ football for the first time since it contested the VFA Finals in 1923.
Footscray 0.1 3.5 3.7 8.11.59
Hawthorn 2.4 4.7 7.14 7.15.57
Goals: Ingersoll 3, Shelton, Simmonds, Arthur, M. Young.
Attendance: 25,436
