The only others to achieve the feat were Don Scott in 1976 and Michael Tuck in 1986.
Beginning the season with two wins has been a rarity for Hawthorn in the last twenty years. Since 1988, the only years when the Hawks have been unbeaten after Round 2 are 1993, 2001 and 2008.
2008 is the first ever season when Hawthorn has been on top of the ladder after both Round 1 and Round 2.
Last week’s Footy Flashbacks reported that 2008 had become only the fourth season when Hawthorn had been on top after Round 1 (the others were 1940, 1978 and 1990). Being in first place after Round 2 is even rarer – this is just the third occasion. The others were 1957 and 1983.
Simon Taylor is the eighth Tasmanian to play 50 games for Hawthorn. Interestingly, the first seven to reach the mark all went on to play 100 games for the club.
The previous seven were Rodney Eade, Darrin Pritchard, Ian Paton, Paul Hudson, Peter Hudson, Jade Rawlings and Colin Robertson. Grant Birchall should become the ninth Tasmanian Hawk to reach 50 games, being on schedule to do so against the Bulldogs in Launceston in Round 10.
In total, 28 Tasmanians have appeared in the brown and gold in the VFL-AFL.
2008 will be the seventh consecutive season in which the Hawks have played North Melbourne twice. Thus far, the Hawthorn has not managed to do the double over the Roos in any recent season. In 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007 the results were split, while the Roos won both matches in 2004 and 2005. North also, of course, also won the Semi Final the sides played last season.
The recent glut of meetings, plus the fact that the two clubs have met 15 times in Finals, means that the 159 games against North is the most Hawthorn has played against any club. The next highest figure is 154 games against Carlton.
The overall record between the Hawthorn and the Kangaroos is 85 to 72 (with 2 draws) in the Hawks’ favour with the lead completely accounted for by the Hawks’ 14 consecutive wins over North from 1985 to 1993.
Hawthorn ended 2007 with a 20-20 record in its 40 games at Docklands. Less than two years ago the Hawks’ record was 13-19, but the club has won seven of its past eight at the ground, making it easily the most successful venue for the club in recent times.
The Hawks have played the Kangaroos five times at the venue, for two wins and three losses.
A win this Saturday would also see Hawthorn squaring its Round 3 record. To date the brown and gold has won 41 and lost 42 of its matches in the round. After 2002 it was 39-39, but the Hawks then lost Round 3 games in the three years from 2003 to 2005. In 2006, Hawthorn defeated Geelong by 52 points at Kardinia Park and last year beat North by 21 points.
Hawthorn has recorded two of the four biggest victories by any club in Round 3. In this round in 1982 the Hawks smashed Footscray by a then club record winning margin of 143 points at Waverley. Hawthorn followed up in Round 3, 1983 thrashing St Kilda by 129 points at Moorabbin.
Those two wins also feature in the list of highest scores for the Round, with the 28.26.194 versus Footscray coming in third on the list.
The record individual goal tally against North is 10 held jointly by Alec Albiston (Round 1, 1940) and Jason Dunstall (Round 22, 1988). The record for Round 3 is the 11 kicked by Leigh Matthews (v Ess) in 1973. Michael Moncrieff had a particular liking for Round 3, kicking 10 in both 1974 (v SM) and 1976 (v Coll).
View the Footy Flashback archive.
