This Saturday night Hawthorn will attempt to end an 18 year drought by winning its first final at the MCG since the 1989 Grand Final.
Since then Hawthorn has lost the four finals contested at the MCG against Melbourne (1990), Adelaide (1993), Kangaroos (2000) and Essendon (2001). All the defeats were by narrow margins – 9, 15, 10 and 9 points.
Hawthorn has won seven finals (and lost just three) at other venues since the Club last tasted MCG success – three at Telstra Dome, two at Waverley and one each at Subiaco and Football Park.
Overall at the MCG, Hawthorn has won 20 finals and lost 15.
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‘Buddy’ Franklin has become just the second Hawthorn player to kick seven goals in his first final. The only other instance was Peter Hudson who kicked seven in the 1971 Second Semi Final.
In fact, Franklin’s effort against Adelaide is only the seventh 7 goal-plus haul in a final for Hawthorn. The record is eight shared by Michael Moncrieff (1978 Qualifying Final) and Dermott Brereton (1985 Grand Final), while Leigh Matthews (twice), Hudson and Jason Dunstall also managed seven.
Franklin’s seven took him to 70 for the season, halving the 14 goal gap between him and leading goalkicker, Brown, from end of home and away season.
Franklin has now scored at least one goal in the last 32 consecutive games in which he has played.
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Hawthorn has now played in 10 finals which have been decided by a goal or less, winning seven and losing three.
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Hawthorn has played the Kangaroos more than any other opponent in finals. This will be the 1925 League entrants 15th finals meeting, almost a quarter of all Hawthorn’s 62 finals. The two clubs played in two finals in every season from 1974 to 1978. In the 14 clashes to date the Hawks hold an 8-6 advantage.
Their most recent finals meeting was 2000 where in a very similar scenario Hawthorn had narrowly won an Elimination Final and the Roos had been thrashed by 125 points in a Qualifying Final. North won by 10 points on a Friday night at the MCG in front of a crowd of 50,027.
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Since the current final eight format was adopted in 2000, 13 of the 14 semi finals have been won by the Qualifying Final losers. The only exception was the Hawks three point victory over Port Adelaide at Football Park in 2001.
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Hawthorn has now brought its Telstra Dome record back to parity at 20 wins and 20 losses from its 40 matches at the ground since it opened in 2000. The Hawks have won seven of their last eight matches there.
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Alastair Clarkson has joined Jack Hale, John Kennedy, David Parkin, Alan Joyce and Peter Schwab on the list of those who won their first final as Hawthorn coach. Those who lost their first final were Allan Jeans, Peter Knights and Ken Judge.
Richie Vandenberg has joined John Kennedy, Graham Arthur, David Parkin and Shane Crawford on the list of those who won their first final as Hawthorn captain. Those who lost their first final were Don Scott (acting captain in 1974), Leigh Matthews, Michael Tuck, Gary Ayres, Chris Langford and Jason Dunstall.
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Adelaide-based Hawthorn supporter Lester Daniels has pointed out that Adelaide’s Mark Ricciuto both began and ended his career playing in losses to Hawthorn. He made his debut in Round 6, 1993 at Football Park in a game Hawthorn won by 17 points.
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Last Saturday’s crowd of 36,534 was the third lowest ever to attend a Hawthorn final. The only lower ones both occurred in 2001 when 30,613 attended at Football Park and 32,910 at Docklands. Until 1994 there had not been an attendance below 40,000 at a Hawthorn final. Five of the Hawks last eight finals have now attracted crowds of below 40,000.
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The overall record between the Hawthorn and the Kangaroos is 85 to 71 (with two draws) in the Hawks’ favour. That lead of 14 is accounted for by the Hawks’ 14 consecutive wins over North from 1985 to 1993.
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A quarter of a century ago, in 1982, Hawthorn also met North Melbourne in the second week of the finals. In that First Semi Final the Hawks trailed a very accurate North by six points at half time before getting on top in the second half to win by 52 points in front of 61,729.
Dermott Brereton, wearing no. 47, kicked five goals in an exciting first game, equaling the club record for most goals on debut. Captain, Leigh Matthews, booted four in the second half while the best players included Gary Ayres, Peter Russo and Alan Goad.
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1957 – 50 years on
Preliminary Final
Saturday, 14 September, 1957 at MCG
Melbourne 22.12.144 d. Hawthorn 11.10.76
Hawthorn fans had a fortnight to savour the club’s 23 point win over Carlton in the club’s first final.
The Hawks could in theory look forward to meeting either of the Second Semi Finalists in the Preliminary Final, as they had beaten both Melbourne and Essendon twice during the home and away season. However, in reality it was clear that Essendon would have been easier opponents than the dual reigning Premiers, who had been shockingly inaccurate in a second half fightback in the Second Semi before losing by 16 points.
The Hawks had an unchanged side from the First Semi Final. Kicking against the wind in the opening term, a three goal deficit was not too bad an outcome. The second term was a disaster as Hawthorn managed only two goals with the wind, while Melbourne slammed on seven goals. Trailing by 44 points at half time, the Hawks produced a solid third quarter, but were then trounced in the final term.
John Peck was outstanding at centre half forward, booting two goals in each of the second and third quarters. Other good players were Brendan Edwards, Allan Woodley, Roy Simmonds, Phil O’Brien and Alf Hughes.
It was a disappointing end to the season, but nothing could take away from the 1957 Hawthorn side the honour of being the first team to make the finals.
Seven players had appeared in all 20 matches – Kennedy, Simmonds, Crane, O’Brien, Woodley, Maurie Young and Falconer.
Alf Hughes both won the best and fairest and also received the most votes (12) in the Brownlow Medal.
Player of the week – John Kennedy
Making the finals in 1957 was a particularly sweet experience for the two remaining players from Hawthorn’s winless 1950 season – John Kennedy and Roy Simmonds.
In a recent interview with Footy Flashbacks, Kennedy recalled the sense of excitement he felt as he and his great friend, Simmonds, ran from the field after the Round 17 game against Essendon at Glenferrie where victory had guaranteed a finals berth for the first time.
In other recollections of 1957, Kennedy also confirmed the story of his waiting with Carlton captain, Ken Hands, at the top of their respective races at the end of half-time in the First Semi waiting for the other to be the first to venture out into the hailstorm. He also described how the 1957 finals series was an eye-opener for him, as he learnt that some rival captains had particular reasons for choosing to play with certain brands of football in the big matches.
After the joy of appearing in the club’s first ever final it was obviously a disappointment to lose to Melbourne so comprehensively in the Preliminary Final. Matches against Melbourne regularly saw Kennedy do battle with Bob Johnson, with Kennedy often managing the healthy double of reducing Johnson’s influence and incurring the ire of the Melbourne supporters.
John Kennedy captained Hawthorn from 1955-1959, including all 20 matches the team played in 1957. He also effectively coached the team in the Round 11 game against Collingwood when coach, Jack Hale, had a car accident on the way to Glenferrie and after a hospital visit did not appear at the ground until the final quarter.
The chapter on Kennedy in Lionel Frost’s book Immortals describes his upbringing in Camberwell. It documents the difficulties the Kennedy family endured first due to his father losing his job as a cigar maker during the Depression and then due to his early death, when Kennedy was aged just 15. It was partly for the financial security of an Education Department studentship that Kennedy chose teaching as a career. As well as his academic achievements at Teachers’ College, Kennedy also managed to win the heavyweight boxing title.
Making his debut for Hawthorn as a 21 year old in 1950, Kenendy joined a club that was suffering from internal divisions after the departure of Alec Albiston and Col Austen. While the club had a terrible season, Kennedy played every game and won the best and fairest, the first of four he was to win in his first five seasons. Kennedy gives credit to coach, Bob McCaskill, for turning the attitude of the club around, a process that was continued by his successor Jack Hale. Hale brought an aggressive approach to football, but Kennedy stresses that “he was a lovely bloke when you got to know him”. As several of his 1957 teammates have also recalled Sunday nights at Jack and Jean Hale’s were wonderful occasions, and not just because the Hales were early owners of a television.
Kennedy played 164 games in his ten year Hawthorn playing career and kicked 29 goals, four of which came in 1957. Kennedy and Norm Maginness were the two members of the 1957 side to have sons who also played for Hawthorn, with John Jnr and Scott being premiership teammates in 1988 and 1989.
His achievements as a coach have been well documented, coaching Hawthorn to its first three premierships in 1961, 1971 and 1976 in two spells (1960-63 and 1967-76). His contribution to Hawthorn saw him recognised as one of the first two legends in the club’s Hall of Fame.
It should also be remembered that Kennedy coached the current Hawthorn coach, Alastair Clarkson, at North Melbourne thus providing a direct coaching link between Jack Hale’s 1957 team and the present one in 2007.
Melbourne 4.4 11.4 16.9 22.12.144
Hawthorn 1.4 4.8 9.9 11.10.76
Goals: Peck 4, G. Young 2, Arthur, Cabble, O’Brien, Falconer,
Simmonds.
Attendance: 74,090
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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and notnecessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.auwould like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to theOfficial Club website. If you would like to sign up to write forhawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
Since then Hawthorn has lost the four finals contested at the MCG against Melbourne (1990), Adelaide (1993), Kangaroos (2000) and Essendon (2001). All the defeats were by narrow margins – 9, 15, 10 and 9 points.
Hawthorn has won seven finals (and lost just three) at other venues since the Club last tasted MCG success – three at Telstra Dome, two at Waverley and one each at Subiaco and Football Park.
Overall at the MCG, Hawthorn has won 20 finals and lost 15.
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‘Buddy’ Franklin has become just the second Hawthorn player to kick seven goals in his first final. The only other instance was Peter Hudson who kicked seven in the 1971 Second Semi Final.
In fact, Franklin’s effort against Adelaide is only the seventh 7 goal-plus haul in a final for Hawthorn. The record is eight shared by Michael Moncrieff (1978 Qualifying Final) and Dermott Brereton (1985 Grand Final), while Leigh Matthews (twice), Hudson and Jason Dunstall also managed seven.
Franklin’s seven took him to 70 for the season, halving the 14 goal gap between him and leading goalkicker, Brown, from end of home and away season.
Franklin has now scored at least one goal in the last 32 consecutive games in which he has played.
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Hawthorn has now played in 10 finals which have been decided by a goal or less, winning seven and losing three.
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Hawthorn has played the Kangaroos more than any other opponent in finals. This will be the 1925 League entrants 15th finals meeting, almost a quarter of all Hawthorn’s 62 finals. The two clubs played in two finals in every season from 1974 to 1978. In the 14 clashes to date the Hawks hold an 8-6 advantage.
Their most recent finals meeting was 2000 where in a very similar scenario Hawthorn had narrowly won an Elimination Final and the Roos had been thrashed by 125 points in a Qualifying Final. North won by 10 points on a Friday night at the MCG in front of a crowd of 50,027.
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Since the current final eight format was adopted in 2000, 13 of the 14 semi finals have been won by the Qualifying Final losers. The only exception was the Hawks three point victory over Port Adelaide at Football Park in 2001.
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Hawthorn has now brought its Telstra Dome record back to parity at 20 wins and 20 losses from its 40 matches at the ground since it opened in 2000. The Hawks have won seven of their last eight matches there.
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Alastair Clarkson has joined Jack Hale, John Kennedy, David Parkin, Alan Joyce and Peter Schwab on the list of those who won their first final as Hawthorn coach. Those who lost their first final were Allan Jeans, Peter Knights and Ken Judge.
Richie Vandenberg has joined John Kennedy, Graham Arthur, David Parkin and Shane Crawford on the list of those who won their first final as Hawthorn captain. Those who lost their first final were Don Scott (acting captain in 1974), Leigh Matthews, Michael Tuck, Gary Ayres, Chris Langford and Jason Dunstall.
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Adelaide-based Hawthorn supporter Lester Daniels has pointed out that Adelaide’s Mark Ricciuto both began and ended his career playing in losses to Hawthorn. He made his debut in Round 6, 1993 at Football Park in a game Hawthorn won by 17 points.
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Last Saturday’s crowd of 36,534 was the third lowest ever to attend a Hawthorn final. The only lower ones both occurred in 2001 when 30,613 attended at Football Park and 32,910 at Docklands. Until 1994 there had not been an attendance below 40,000 at a Hawthorn final. Five of the Hawks last eight finals have now attracted crowds of below 40,000.
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The overall record between the Hawthorn and the Kangaroos is 85 to 71 (with two draws) in the Hawks’ favour. That lead of 14 is accounted for by the Hawks’ 14 consecutive wins over North from 1985 to 1993.
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A quarter of a century ago, in 1982, Hawthorn also met North Melbourne in the second week of the finals. In that First Semi Final the Hawks trailed a very accurate North by six points at half time before getting on top in the second half to win by 52 points in front of 61,729.
Dermott Brereton, wearing no. 47, kicked five goals in an exciting first game, equaling the club record for most goals on debut. Captain, Leigh Matthews, booted four in the second half while the best players included Gary Ayres, Peter Russo and Alan Goad.
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1957 – 50 years on
Preliminary Final
Saturday, 14 September, 1957 at MCG
Melbourne 22.12.144 d. Hawthorn 11.10.76
Hawthorn fans had a fortnight to savour the club’s 23 point win over Carlton in the club’s first final.
The Hawks could in theory look forward to meeting either of the Second Semi Finalists in the Preliminary Final, as they had beaten both Melbourne and Essendon twice during the home and away season. However, in reality it was clear that Essendon would have been easier opponents than the dual reigning Premiers, who had been shockingly inaccurate in a second half fightback in the Second Semi before losing by 16 points.
The Hawks had an unchanged side from the First Semi Final. Kicking against the wind in the opening term, a three goal deficit was not too bad an outcome. The second term was a disaster as Hawthorn managed only two goals with the wind, while Melbourne slammed on seven goals. Trailing by 44 points at half time, the Hawks produced a solid third quarter, but were then trounced in the final term.
John Peck was outstanding at centre half forward, booting two goals in each of the second and third quarters. Other good players were Brendan Edwards, Allan Woodley, Roy Simmonds, Phil O’Brien and Alf Hughes.
It was a disappointing end to the season, but nothing could take away from the 1957 Hawthorn side the honour of being the first team to make the finals.
Seven players had appeared in all 20 matches – Kennedy, Simmonds, Crane, O’Brien, Woodley, Maurie Young and Falconer.
Alf Hughes both won the best and fairest and also received the most votes (12) in the Brownlow Medal.
Player of the week – John Kennedy
Making the finals in 1957 was a particularly sweet experience for the two remaining players from Hawthorn’s winless 1950 season – John Kennedy and Roy Simmonds.
In a recent interview with Footy Flashbacks, Kennedy recalled the sense of excitement he felt as he and his great friend, Simmonds, ran from the field after the Round 17 game against Essendon at Glenferrie where victory had guaranteed a finals berth for the first time.
In other recollections of 1957, Kennedy also confirmed the story of his waiting with Carlton captain, Ken Hands, at the top of their respective races at the end of half-time in the First Semi waiting for the other to be the first to venture out into the hailstorm. He also described how the 1957 finals series was an eye-opener for him, as he learnt that some rival captains had particular reasons for choosing to play with certain brands of football in the big matches.
After the joy of appearing in the club’s first ever final it was obviously a disappointment to lose to Melbourne so comprehensively in the Preliminary Final. Matches against Melbourne regularly saw Kennedy do battle with Bob Johnson, with Kennedy often managing the healthy double of reducing Johnson’s influence and incurring the ire of the Melbourne supporters.
John Kennedy captained Hawthorn from 1955-1959, including all 20 matches the team played in 1957. He also effectively coached the team in the Round 11 game against Collingwood when coach, Jack Hale, had a car accident on the way to Glenferrie and after a hospital visit did not appear at the ground until the final quarter.
The chapter on Kennedy in Lionel Frost’s book Immortals describes his upbringing in Camberwell. It documents the difficulties the Kennedy family endured first due to his father losing his job as a cigar maker during the Depression and then due to his early death, when Kennedy was aged just 15. It was partly for the financial security of an Education Department studentship that Kennedy chose teaching as a career. As well as his academic achievements at Teachers’ College, Kennedy also managed to win the heavyweight boxing title.
Making his debut for Hawthorn as a 21 year old in 1950, Kenendy joined a club that was suffering from internal divisions after the departure of Alec Albiston and Col Austen. While the club had a terrible season, Kennedy played every game and won the best and fairest, the first of four he was to win in his first five seasons. Kennedy gives credit to coach, Bob McCaskill, for turning the attitude of the club around, a process that was continued by his successor Jack Hale. Hale brought an aggressive approach to football, but Kennedy stresses that “he was a lovely bloke when you got to know him”. As several of his 1957 teammates have also recalled Sunday nights at Jack and Jean Hale’s were wonderful occasions, and not just because the Hales were early owners of a television.
Kennedy played 164 games in his ten year Hawthorn playing career and kicked 29 goals, four of which came in 1957. Kennedy and Norm Maginness were the two members of the 1957 side to have sons who also played for Hawthorn, with John Jnr and Scott being premiership teammates in 1988 and 1989.
His achievements as a coach have been well documented, coaching Hawthorn to its first three premierships in 1961, 1971 and 1976 in two spells (1960-63 and 1967-76). His contribution to Hawthorn saw him recognised as one of the first two legends in the club’s Hall of Fame.
It should also be remembered that Kennedy coached the current Hawthorn coach, Alastair Clarkson, at North Melbourne thus providing a direct coaching link between Jack Hale’s 1957 team and the present one in 2007.
Melbourne 4.4 11.4 16.9 22.12.144
Hawthorn 1.4 4.8 9.9 11.10.76
Goals: Peck 4, G. Young 2, Arthur, Cabble, O’Brien, Falconer,
Simmonds.
Attendance: 74,090
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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and notnecessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.auwould like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to theOfficial Club website. If you would like to sign up to write forhawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
