What made the achievement in Round 4, 2005 more noteworthy was that it was against a team who had played in the previous four Grand Finals, Brisbane Lions, and was also by the significant margin of 46 points - 18.7.115 to 10.9.69.
After a heavy loss to Sydney in Round 1, 2005 the Hawks had shown steady improvement in losses to Richmond and Essendon in Rounds 2 and 3. Now at the MCG, before a crowd of 27,778, the Hawks and Lions played an even opening term, before the home team slammed on 6.2 to 1.3 in the second quarter, and then maintained the advantage for the rest of the game.
Mark Williams kicked 6 goals, with the only other multiple goal-kicker being Peter Everitt with 2, as 12 individuals kicked goals. The leading disposal getters were Sam Mitchell with 36, Shane Crawford 32 and captain, Richie Vandenberg, with 29. Mitchell also got the 3 Brownlow votes.
Twelve members of that Hawthorn team went onto play in the 2008 Premiership team, and ten of them are still at the Club.
In making his debut last Sunday, Ben Stratton has become the fourth player from East Perth to represent Hawthorn, the previous three being Alvin Whittle, Paul Barnard and fellow current Hawk Gary Moss.
Whittle’s only Hawthorn game was a horrendous 107 loss to Essendon at Windy Hill in Round 12, 1944, making him the only Hawthorn one-gamer to play in a 100 point loss. Barnard played 11 games for Hawthorn, 1994-95, before shifting to Essendon, as part of the Salmon-Jarman three-way deal, and went onto play in Essendon’s 2000 Premiership team.
The WAFL clubs to have produced the most Hawthorn players are East Fremantle (10) and Claremont (7).
When Xavier Ellis played his 50th game on Sunday, it reduced the number of 2008 Premiership players to have not played 50 games for the Club to just three - Cyril Rioli (46 games), Brent Renouf (26) and Stuart Dew (26).
Members of other Hawthorn Premiership teams to have had careers of fewer than 50 games for the club included Jack Cunningham (17), Malcolm Hill (22), Robert Day (38) and Greg Madigan (40).
Hawthorn’s most recent Round 4 meeting with Collingwood was in 2002, a game the Hawks lost by 41points - 9.9.63 to 15.14.104.
Before that, one has to go back to 1978 to find a clash in this round and it was a far happier occasion for Hawks’ fans.
Before a crowd of 28,714 at Victoria Park, Collingwood lead narrowly at every change by 3 points at quarter time, by 7 at half time, and by 5 points at the final change. However, Hawthorn hit the front early in the last quarter and then held on, in a state of high tension as the game remained goalless from the 13 minute mark to the final siren at the 29 minute mark.
The final score was 15.15.105 to 14.19.103 with Michael Moncrieff kicking 4 goals and the best players being Peter Knights, John Hendrie, David Polkinghorne, Barry Rowlings, Ian Paton and Geoff Ablett.
It had only been 18 years before that 1978 win that Hawthorn had won its first ever game away to Collingwood. Later this season, Footy Flashbacks will have a special feature to mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the dramatic after-the-siren one point win at Victoria Park in Round 13, 1960. There will also be a special function with players from that famous team to commemorate the occasion, to which members of Glenferrie Gold, the Life Patrons of the Hawks Museum will also be invited.
Anyone interested in joining the Glenferrie Gold ranks, or becoming a Friend of the Hawks Museum, should contact the museum at hawksmuseum@hawthornfc.com.au or phone on 03 9535 3075.
The overall record in the 148 matches between the two clubs is Collingwood 93 wins and Hawthorn 55. Hawthorn has won the past four encounters - by 8 points at Docklands in 2007, by 65 points and 54 points in 2008, and by 45 points in Round 16 last season.
Hawthorn has played 84 times in Round 4 (having a bye in 1991). The team has had 36 wins, 46 losses and two draws (in 1939 and 1996). The Hawks won in Round 4 in the first four seasons under Alastair Clarkson, but last year suffered a disappointing 30 point loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG.
Hawthorn took longer to win in Round 4 than in any other round. It was not until 1941 that the club tasted success after 15 losses and one draw. The Hawks won eight consecutive Round 4 games from 1974 to 1981.
This Saturday will only be the seventh game that Hawthorn has played on 17 April, and the first since 1993. Hawthorn last win on 17 April was in Round 3, 1976 against this week’s opponent, Collingwood by a massive 72 points at Princes Park. That year the Hawks went onto win the Flag, while the Magpies collected their first ever wooden spoon.
The best goal-kicking effort by a Hawk against Collingwood is 11 by Jason Dunstall in both 1989 and 1990, followed by Michael Moncrieff with 10 in 1976. The record for Round 4 is the 9 goals booted by Moncrieff at Waverley Park against South Melbourne in 1979.
