Hawthorn will be hoping the rest of the 2024 season turns out the same way as the last time the Hawks won their first game in Round 6.

64 years ago, under new coach John Kennedy in 1960, Hawthorn lost the first five games of the season, before in Round 6 winning an away game against North Melbourne, just like their 2024 counterparts.

After their Round 6 success, the 1960 Hawks also then won the next four games to get back to a 5-5 record. This was followed later by wins in the last six games of the 18-round season to finish just outside the top four with an 11-7 record. This set the Hawks up for what proved to be the ultimate success in 1961.

Last Sunday, Dylan Moore kicked four goals for the third time in his 81-game AFL career. The previous two also instances were also in wins, being in an 18-point victory over GWS at the MCG in 2021 and the 12-point triumph versus Geelong on Easter Monday 2022.

The score of 17.11.113 last Sunday ensured the Hawks extended their streak of having kicked at least one century in every season from 1966 onwards. The streak came close to ending in both 2019 and 2020 when centuries did not come to the penultimate and final round respectively but in 2024 it has been ticked off by Round 6.

In this Anzac Day round, we should remember the ten Hawthorn League players who lost their lives in the Second World War, or who died as a result of war wounds, or war-related illness – Jack Drake, Alf Giblett, Bruce Hone, Alex Nash, Richard Pirrie, Jack Price, Len Thomas, Max Wheeler, Leo ‘Gus’ Young and Harold Zucker, plus Seconds player, Douglas Curphey.

There were also several players who represented the club in its days in the Metropolitan Junior Football Association and VFA who lost their lives on active duty in the First World War. Their names include Hugh Callan, John Collins, William Field, Don McConville, Joseph Skene, Joe Slater and Joseph Sorby.

This Sunday is an auspicious date to be playing a game as the Hawks have won their last eight games played on 28 April. One has to go back to 1973 to find a 28 April defeat (by 12 points to Carlton) and since then the eight consecutive victories have included kicking a club record score (36.15.231) against Fitzroy on this date in 1991.

This Sunday sees Hawthorn’s first MCG home game against Sydney since 2018, with the only other home game against the Swans since then played in Launceston on Anzac Day 2022. Hawthorn’s most recent win in a home game against Sydney was in 2017 and the most recent away success was in 2021.

In total, Hawthorn has played South Melbourne / Sydney 171 times, recording 94 wins, 75 defeats and two draws. Hawthorn beat the Swans 13 consecutive times from 1971 to 1977, and 11 times in a row from 1981 to 1986.

Hawthorn won eight consecutive Round 7 games from 2011 to 2018, but has lost its past five, three to Melbourne (2019, 2020 and 2022), one to St Kilda (2021) and last season to the Western Bulldogs. Hawthorn has played a total of 98 games in Round 7 for 47 wins, 51 defeats and one draw.

Hawthorn most recently played Sydney in Round 7 in 2013 earning a small piece of revenge for its defeat in the previous season’s Grand Final, defeating the Swans by 37 points – 18.11.119 to 12.10.82. An MCG crowd of 54,725 saw Jarryd Roughead kick four goals while Luke Hodge (32 disposals) and Sam Mitchell (30 disposals) were both outstanding.

10 years ago, in Round 7 2014, Hawthorn thrashed St Kilda by 145 points – 27.13.175 to 4.6.30. Four forwards kicked four goals, while Grant Birchall received the three Brownlow votes for his 34-disposal game. The only negative was an early injury to Sam Mitchell, but it enabled substitute Billy Hartung to make a stunning debut, with 26 disposals and a goal.

30 years ago, in Round 7 1994, Hawthorn continued its revival, defeating reigning Premiers Essendon by 13 points at Waverley – 12.16.88 to 11.9.75. Jason Dunstall kicked four goals, with Anthony Condon (31 disposals), Shane Crawford (25) and Ben Allan (24) being prolific possession winners.

40 years ago, in Round 7 1984, Hawthorn trailed Fitzroy by 26 points late in the third quarter but then added 4.1.to 0.0 in time-on to reduce the margin to a point at three quarter time. The Hawks then kicked 6.8 to 2.0 to surge away to a 31-point win. Leigh Matthews had 24 disposals and kicked seven goals, while Ken Judge had 23 disposals and kicked six.

50 years ago, in Round 7 1974, Hawthorn and Carlton met as co-tenants at Princes Park for the first time. A crowd of 21,266 saw Leigh Matthews kick five goals and Michael Moncrieff four, while Peter Crimmins and Geoff Ablett each had 21 kicks as Hawthorn cruised to a 40-point win – 13.22.100 to 8.12.60.

60 years ago, in Round 7 1964, Hawthorn recorded a comfortable 31-point victory against Richmond at Glenferrie – 13.11.89 to 7.16.58. Kevin Connell kicked four goals and Phil Hay was best-on-ground.

The Round 7 individual Hawthorn goal-kicking tally is the highest for any round. In Round 7 1992, Jason Dunstall kicked 17 goals against Richmond, falling just one short of Fred Fanning’s VFL-AFL record of 18, but bettering the previous Hawthorn record of 16 set by Peter Hudson in 1969. Hudson holds the individual goals record for Hawthorn against the Swans, twice kicking 13, in both 1969 and 1970.