Hawthorn Football Club facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hawthorn Football Club
Names
Full name	Hawthorn Football Club Limited
Nickname(s)	Hawks
Motto	Spectemur Agendo (Let us be judged by our acts.)
2024 season
After finals	6th
Home-and-away season	7th
Leading goalkicker	Mabior Chol (37 goals)
Peter Crimmins Medal	Jai Newcombe
Club details
Founded	1902; 123 years ago (1902) (entered the VFL in 1925)
Colours	Brown      Gold
Competition	AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women VBFL: Blind (mixed) VWFL: Wheelchair (mixed) CWFL: Wheelchair (mixed)
President	Andrew Gowers
CEO	Ash Klein
Coach	Sam Mitchell
Captain(s)	James Sicily
Premierships	VFL/AFL (13) 1961 1971 1976 1978 1983 1986 1988 1989 1991 2008 2013 2014 2015 Reserves/VFL (7) 1958 1959 1972 1985 2001 2013 2018 VFLW (1) 2018 Championship of Australia (1) 1971
Ground(s)	Melbourne Cricket Ground (capacity: 100,024)
	University of Tasmania Stadium (capacity: 19,000)
Former ground(s)	Glenferrie Oval (1906–1973)
	Princes Park (1974–1991)
	Waverley Park (1974–1991)
Training ground(s)	Waverley Park (until 2025) Kennedy Community Centre (from 2025)
Uniforms
Home Away Legends
Other information
Official website	hawthornfc.com.au
Current season

The Hawthorn Football Club, also known as the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football team. They play in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club started in 1902 in Hawthorn, making them the newest Victorian team in the AFL.

Hawthorn is special because they've won championships (called premierships) in every decade from the 1960s to the 2010s! In total, they have won 13 senior VFL/AFL premierships. The team wears brown and gold striped jerseys. Their Latin motto, spectemur agendo, means "Let us be judged by our acts." Hawthorn has strong rivalries with teams like Geelong and Essendon.

From when they started until 1973, the Hawks played home games at Glenferrie Oval in Hawthorn. Then, they moved to Princes Park in 1974, staying there until 1991. After that, they played at Waverley Park. Later, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) became their main home ground. Since 2007, Hawthorn has also played four games a year at their second home ground, York Park in Launceston, Tasmania.

Hawthorn also has a women's team in the AFL Women's competition. They joined the league in 2022 and their first game at Marvel Stadium sold out quickly.

Club History

Early Days

Many people believe the club started in 1873. While a Hawthorn Football Club did form then, it wasn't the same club that plays in the AFL today. The current club is likely the third team to use the name 'Hawthorn Football Club'. Earlier versions of the club stopped playing in 1883 and 1890. Another club called 'Hawthorn Football Club' played from 1893 to 1898 but then also stopped.

The Modern Club Begins

In March 1902, Alf Kosky created a new club called the Hawthorn Football Club. They joined the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA). Hawthorn won their first game in 1902, beating Celtic by 18 points. In 1905, Hawthorn joined with the Boroondara Football Club. They kept the "Hawthorn" name but started wearing Boroondara's black jerseys with a red stripe.

In 1906, the club changed its official name to the Hawthorn City Football Club when Glenferrie Oval opened. In 1912, they merged with the Hawthorn Rovers, a successful junior club. They changed their jerseys again to gold with a blue "V" and officially became "Hawthorn City." The club then joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1914.

VFA Years: 1914–1924

When Hawthorn joined the VFA, they needed new colors because Williamstown already used blue and gold. On February 17, 1914, they chose brown and gold, which they still use today! They won three games and had one draw in their first VFA season. During World War I, many players joined the army, and the club finished last in 1915. The VFA stopped playing in 1916 and 1917.

Hawthorn returned in 1919 and played better, finishing sixth. In 1922, Bill Walton became their coach. He couldn't play for Hawthorn that year, so he coached them during the week while playing for another team, Port Melbourne, on weekends! In 1923, Walton finally played for Hawthorn, and the club made it to the finals for the first time, but they lost.

Joining the VFL

The VFL (now AFL) wanted to add more teams. In 1924, a group called the Hawthorn Citizens' League Campaign Committee worked hard to get the club into the VFL. On January 16, 1925, the VFL decided to add three VFA clubs: Hawthorn, Footscray, and North Melbourne.

Tough Times: 1925–1949

For many years, Hawthorn, then known as the Mayblooms, struggled. They didn't win many games and often finished at the bottom of the ladder. They couldn't even pay their players much money.

In 1942, coach Roy Cazaly suggested a new nickname: the "Hawks". He thought it sounded tougher than "Mayblooms." In 1943, the Hawks had their best season yet, almost making the finals. However, they soon returned to the bottom, often competing with St Kilda for the wooden spoon (last place). In 1949, player Col Austen tied for the Brownlow Medal, a big award, but didn't win it at the time due to old rules. Later, in 1989, he was given the medal he deserved.

The 1950s

The 1950s started with some problems for the club. In 1950, the club changed its playing jersey to the brown and gold vertical stripes we know today. Two important players, John Kennedy and Roy Simmonds, joined the team. Kennedy became captain and won the club's best and fairest award four times.

In 1952, Jack Hale became coach. He helped the club become more serious about winning. Even though they finished last in 1953, Hawthorn slowly started to get better. In 1954, they signed Clayton "Candles" Thompson, a star player from South Australia. Young players like John Peck and Graham Arthur also joined, helping the team win more games.

First Finals Appearance

In 1957, the senior team made it to the finals for the very first time! They beat Carlton in a memorable game that saw a strange hailstorm. However, they lost to Melbourne in the next game.

The Kennedy Era: 1960–1982

It was a great thing for people who had followed the club through all the bad years. Until then, before and through the match, I had been absorbed with the conviction that we were fighting for something that was our right, to be up there with the best of them.

Winning Championships

1961 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	13	16	94
Footscray	7	9	51
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 107,935

After a few average seasons, John Kennedy became coach again in 1960. He believed players needed to be much fitter, so he started a tough training program. In 1961, Kennedy led the Hawks to their first-ever championship (premiership), beating Footscray in the Grand Final!

In 1963, the club finished first on the ladder but lost the Grand Final to Geelong. Kennedy left, and Graham Arthur became captain-coach. The team struggled in 1965, finishing last. New talented players like Peter Crimmins and Des Meagher joined the team in 1966.

John Kennedy returned to coach in 1967. Star players like Don Scott and Peter Hudson joined. Hudson was an amazing goal-kicker, scoring 125 goals in 1968 and 120 in 1969. Even with these great players, Hawthorn didn't make the finals until later. In 1969, two young stars, Peter Knights and Leigh Matthews, were recruited.

In 1971, the Hawks finished first on the ladder again. Peter Hudson scored 150 goals, matching a record. Leigh Matthews won his first of eight club championships.

1971 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	12	10	82
St Kilda	11	9	75
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 118,192

The 1971 Grand Final was against St Kilda. Hawthorn was missing Peter Knights due to injury. St Kilda was leading by 20 points at the start of the last quarter. But "Kennedy's Commandos," as the team was called for their tough training, fought back! They kicked seven goals to three in the final quarter, with Bob Keddie kicking four, to win the championship.

In 1972, Michael Tuck played his first game. He would go on to play a club record 426 games!

1976 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	13	22	100
North Melbourne	10	10	70
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 110,143

In the 1970s, a strong rivalry grew with North Melbourne. They played in three Grand Finals against each other. The 1976 Grand Final was special. The team was inspired by the illness of former Captain Peter Crimmins, who sadly died from cancer three days after the win. Hawthorn won by five goals.

1978 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	18	13	121
North Melbourne	15	13	103
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 101,704

In the 1978 Grand Final, Hawthorn played North Melbourne again. North Melbourne was leading at halftime, but Hawthorn had a strong third quarter, kicking 7 goals and 6 behinds. They ended up winning by three goals.

Glory Years: 1983–1991

Seven Straight Grand Finals: 1983–1989

The 1980s were Hawthorn's greatest era. They won four premierships and played in the Grand Final for seven years in a row! This included three Grand Finals against their big rival, Essendon.

In 1982, Hawthorn returned to the finals. Young players like Dermott Brereton made their debut. Hawthorn lost the Preliminary Final that year.

1983 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	20	20	140
Essendon	8	9	57
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 110,332

Hawthorn won their first premiership of the decade in the 1983 Grand Final, beating Essendon by a huge margin. This showed how strong Hawthorn was becoming. They played Essendon in the next two Grand Finals, losing both in 1984 and 1985.

1986 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	16	14	110
Carlton	9	14	68
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 101,861

Their second premiership came in the 1986 Grand Final, where they beat Carlton easily. Gary Ayres won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player in the game. In 1987, Hawthorn made it to the Grand Final again but lost to Carlton.

1988 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	22	20	152
Melbourne	6	20	56
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 93,754

In 1988, Alan Joyce coached the team. The Hawks only lost 3 games all year. Jason Dunstall kicked 132 goals. They won the 1988 Premiership against Melbourne by a record 96 points! Gary Ayres won his second Norm Smith Medal.

The 1989 season was one of the most exciting. Dunstall kicked over 100 goals again. The Grand Final against Geelong was legendary for its toughness and high scoring.

1989 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	21	18	144
Geelong	21	12	138
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 94,796

The Hawks beat Geelong in the 1989 Grand Final. It was a very physical game. Several Hawthorn players got injured, but they kept fighting. Geelong almost caught up in the last quarter, but Hawthorn held on to win by just one goal.

1990–1991

Hawthorn played in a record seven Grand Finals in nine seasons (1983–1991). Key players during this time included Dermott Brereton, Gary Ayres, Michael Tuck, and Jason Dunstall.

In 1990, injuries hurt the team, and they lost in the Elimination Final. Alan Joyce became coach in 1991. The Hawks started the season with a big loss but bounced back. They recruited talented player Darren Jarman and young players like Paul Hudson improved. They reached the 1991 Grand Final.

1991 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	20	19	139
West Coast	13	8	86
Venue: Waverley Park	Crowd: 75,230

The 1991 Grand Final was historic. It was the only Grand Final played at Waverley Park and featured the first non-Victorian team, West Coast. West Coast was favored to win, but Hawthorn, despite being underestimated, won the match. Michael Tuck played his last game, setting records for most games (426) and premierships (7).

A New Era: 1992–1996

After sharing Princes Park with Carlton, Hawthorn started moving its home games to Waverley Park in 1990. By 1992, all home games were played there.

By the end of 1993, there were changes. Coach Alan Joyce was replaced by Peter Knights. Club legends like Gary Ayres and Dermott Brereton left. The club also started spending a lot of money it didn't have. More key players left, and in 1995, the Hawks finished 15th, missing the finals for the first time since 1981.

Proposed Merger

In 1996, the club almost merged with the Melbourne team. The new team would have been called the "Melbourne Hawks." But many Hawthorn members, led by former champion Don Scott, strongly voted against it. The merger failed, and a new board took over.

1997–2004

After stopping the merger, the new board launched a "Proud, Passionate and Paid Up" campaign to get more members. They succeeded, more than doubling their members. The team won the 1999 pre-season competition but missed the finals.

Peter Schwab became coach in 2000. The Hawks played an attacking style and reached the semi-finals. In 2001, they had another good year, winning eight games in a row and reaching the preliminary finals, where they narrowly lost to Essendon. After the season, Hawthorn traded some players to get high draft picks, which brought in future stars like Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.

In 2002, the Hawks finished tenth, which was disappointing. Shane Crawford won the Peter Crimmins Medal. Young players like Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, and Campbell Brown made their debuts. All of them would later play in the 2008 premiership team.

In 2003, Hawthorn finished ninth, just missing the finals. Sam Mitchell won the AFL Rising Star award. In 2004, the coach, Peter Schwab, was sacked after a very bad season where the Hawks won only four games. Many players left the club.

Alastair Clarkson Era: 2005–2021

Building for Success: 2005–2006

In 2005, Hawthorn surprised many by appointing Alastair Clarkson as coach. Clarkson started rebuilding the team, focusing on young players. They drafted future stars like Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin, and Jordan Lewis. In 2005, the Hawks won only five games, but their young players showed great promise. Luke Hodge had a breakout season, winning the Peter Crimmins Medal.

In 2006, the club moved its offices and training facilities from Glenferrie Oval to Waverley Park. Clarkson also introduced a new playing style called "Buddy's box" for their tall forwards. The team improved, winning the last four games of the season.

Return to Finals and Premiership: 2007–2008

In 2007, the Hawks continued to improve, winning 13 games and finishing fifth. They won their first final against Adelaide but lost in the semi-final. Clarkson also brought in players like Brent Guerra and Stephen Gilham. He introduced a new strategy called the "Clarkson Cluster," a defensive zone that made it hard for opponents to move the ball.

2008 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	18	7	115
Geelong	11	23	89
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 100,012

In the 2008 AFL season, Hawthorn played a tough, physical style of football. They finished second on the ladder and went on to win the 2008 Grand Final against Geelong. Geelong had only lost one match all season, so it was a huge upset! Lance Franklin won the Coleman Medal for kicking 102 goals, the first player in over a decade to kick 100 goals in the regular season.

A Dynasty is Built: 2011–2016

In 2011, Hawthorn finished third on the ladder but lost the preliminary final. Lance Franklin won the Coleman Medal again. In 2012, Hawthorn finished first (minor premiers) for the first time since 1989. They reached the Grand Final but lost to the Sydney Swans by 10 points.

2013 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	11	11	77
Fremantle	8	14	62
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 100,007

In 2013, Hawthorn finished as minor premiers again. Jarryd Roughead won the John Coleman Medal for being the top goal-kicker. Hawthorn defeated the Fremantle Dockers by 15 points in the Grand Final to win their 11th premiership.

2014 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	21	11	137
Sydney	11	8	74
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 99,460

In 2014, the club won its 12th premiership. Despite Lance Franklin leaving and coach Alastair Clarkson being ill for a month, the Hawks won the Grand Final against the Sydney Swans by 63 points.

2015 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	16	11	107
West Coast	8	13	61
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 98,632

In 2015, Hawthorn started slowly but then won 8 games in a row. They reached the Grand Final for the fourth year in a row. On a very hot day, the Hawks defeated the West Coast Eagles to win their third championship in a row! This was their 13th overall premiership.

In 2016, some key players retired or were injured. Hawthorn won many close games but lost in the finals. After the season, the club made big trades, sending stars Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis to other teams. They brought in new players like Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara.

Final Years of Clarkson: 2017–2021

Before the 2017 season, Luke Hodge stepped down as captain, and Jarryd Roughead became the new captain. The 2017 season was tough for the Hawks. They lost many games early on and were at the bottom of the ladder. However, after a mid-season break, the team made an amazing comeback, winning six of their last ten games. They just missed the finals. Tom Mitchell had an incredible season, breaking records for possessions and winning the Peter Crimmins Medal.

In 2018, Tom Mitchell won the Brownlow Medal. The team surprised many by finishing fourth after a strong winning streak. In 2019, Mitchell broke his leg and missed the whole season, which hurt the team's performance. They finished ninth.

In 2020, Hawthorn finished 15th, their lowest spot since Clarkson became coach. In July 2021, it was announced that Sam Mitchell would take over as head coach from Clarkson in 2023. However, Clarkson left earlier, and Mitchell became coach right away at the end of the 2021 season.

The Sam Mitchell Era (2022-Present)

Hawthorn had a couple of tough seasons in 2022 and 2023, finishing 13th and 16th. But they showed signs of promise.

In 2024, Hawthorn started with five losses in a row. However, they then had an amazing season, losing only five more games for the rest of the year! They made the finals for the first time since 2018, finishing seventh. This was a huge achievement for a team that started so poorly.

The Hawks beat the Western Bulldogs in the elimination final. Their great season ended with a very close three-point loss to Port Adelaide in the semi-final.

Season Summaries

Here's a quick look at Hawthorn's last five seasons. For all their seasons, see List of Hawthorn Football Club seasons.

Season	Won	Lost	Drawn	Position	Finals	Coach	Captain	Leading goalkicker	Peter Crimmins Medal
2020	5	12	0	15th	Did not qualify	Alastair Clarkson	Ben Stratton	Jack Gunston	Jack Gunston
2021	7	13	2	14th	Did not qualify	Alastair Clarkson	Ben McEvoy	Luke Breust	Tom Mitchell
2022	8	14	0	13th	Did not qualify	Sam Mitchell	Ben McEvoy	Luke Breust	James Sicily
2023	7	16	0	16th	Did not qualify	Sam Mitchell	James Sicily	Luke Breust	Will Day
2024	14	9	0	7th	Lost semi-final (Port Adelaide) 72–75	Sam Mitchell	James Sicily	Mabior Chol	Jai Newcombe

Club Symbols

Logo, Crest and Mascot

When Hawthorn joined the VFL in 1925, they were called The Mayblooms. This name came from the hawthorn bush. In 1943, coach Roy Cazaly changed their nickname to the "Hawks". He wanted the players to be tough and fast like a hawk.

Hawthorn has had four official logos.

Official Logo
1977–1981 Hawthorn's first official logo was introduced in 1977. It was a gold shield with a 'Flying Hawk' holding a brown football with "HFC" on it.
1982–1996 In 1982, the club adopted the famous "Hawk Head" logo, created by Velda Ellis. This logo was unique because it only showed the hawk's head, unlike other clubs' logos. It's still very popular with fans because the club won five premierships while using it.
1997–2007 After a possible merger failed in 1996, Hawthorn launched a new, modern 'Flying Hawk' logo in 1997. This new logo helped the club gain many more members, becoming one of the biggest clubs in Victoria.
2008–present On October 6, 2007, the club launched its fourth logo. This new logo looks a lot like the "Hawk Head" from the 80s and 90s. It was designed to show the "determination, pride, and focus" of Hawthorn. In the first 11 seasons with this logo, the club only missed the finals twice.

Club Guernsey (Jersey)

The Hawthorn colors are brown and gold vertical stripes. They have worn this design since 1950. Their main sponsors include Tasmania, iiNet, Bupa, Nissan, and Adidas.

The club's colors and designs have changed a few times:

• 1914–1924: Brown with a gold circle around the neck and "HFC" in the center.
• 1925–1932: Brown with a gold V and a smaller "HFC" on the left chest.
• 1933–1934: Gold with a brown V.
• 1934–1949: Brown with a gold V and brown socks with gold tops.
• 1950–1974: Brown and gold stripes on front and back.
• 1975–1988: Brown and gold stripes with a plain gold back.
• 1989–1997: Brown and gold stripes with a plain gold back and plain gold socks.
• 1998–2005: Brown and gold stripes with a plain gold back and brown and gold hooped socks.
• 2006–2012: Brown and gold stripes on front and back with black numbers.
• 2013–present: Brown and gold stripes on front and back with brown numbers on a gold panel.

In 2018, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said that the club's away jerseys would no longer have white. He said, "White is the color of surrender, and at Hawthorn we never surrender."

Club Song

The Hawthorn club song is called "We're a Happy Team at Hawthorn." It uses the tune of "The Yankee Doodle Boy." The song was adapted with new Hawthorn lyrics in 1956.

Club Operations

Training and Community

The closure of Waverley Park in 1999 was a challenge for Hawthorn. They could no longer play home games in the south-east area where many fans lived. Home games moved to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In 2006, the Hawks returned to Waverley Park as their training and administration center.

In 2005, former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett became the president of the Hawthorn Football Club. He helped the club grow. Hawthorn has celebrated its premiership wins at Glenferrie Oval, their spiritual home, with thousands of fans.

New Training Center

Hawthorn is building a large new headquarters in Dingley. It will be a modern training and administration center for players and staff. It will also have facilities for fans. The new center will be called the Kennedy Community Centre, named after former player and coach John Kennedy Sr.

Construction started in February 2024. When finished in 2025, Hawthorn will be the only team to own its own facility and the land it's on.

Connection with Tasmania

Since 2001, Hawthorn has built a strong fan base in Tasmania. Their membership there has grown from 1,000 to over 9,000. Hawthorn plays four home games a year in Tasmania as part of a deal with the Tasmanian government. This helps the local economy and increases Hawthorn's popularity in the state.

Club Goals

In 2007, Hawthorn launched a 5-year plan called "five2fifty." The goal was to win two premierships and have 50,000 members. Hawthorn achieved 50,000 members by 2009 and won four premierships in the next eight years!

After "five2fifty," Hawthorn started a new plan called "All for One." They aimed for over 80,000 members and wanted to be known as "the destination club."

In 2009, Hawthorn launched "HANZ-UP! AFL Program" in New Zealand to promote Australian rules football there. They offer programs like KiwiKick (a version of Auskick) and scholarships.

Fan Support

Hawthorn has a huge fan base across Australia, especially in Victoria and Tasmania. They are one of the top clubs for drawing crowds at the MCG, often getting over 50,000 fans for home games. This widespread support comes from their success in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2009, Hawthorn had the most members in the AFL, becoming the first Victorian club to reach over 51,000 members. By 2012, they were the second club to reach over 60,000 members.

Club Rivalries

Essendon – These two clubs played in three Grand Finals in a row from 1983 to 1985. Their games were often very tough and physical, making them fierce rivals. More recently, they've had big fights on the field, like the "Line in the Sand Match" in 2004, which led to many suspensions and fines.

Geelong – The rivalry between Hawthorn and Geelong is famous for two Grand Finals: 1989 and 2008. In the 1989 Grand Final, Geelong played very aggressively, causing injuries to several Hawks players. Despite the injuries, Hawthorn held on to win by one goal.

In the 2008 Grand Final, Geelong was expected to win easily, as they had only lost one game all season. But Hawthorn pulled off a huge upset, winning by 26 points! After this, Geelong won eleven games in a row against Hawthorn. Many of these losses were very close and heartbreaking for the Hawks. This losing streak was called the "Kennett curse" because Hawthorn's president, Jeff Kennett, had made some boastful comments after the 2008 win. The "curse" was finally broken in the 2013 Preliminary Final when Hawthorn won by 5 points.

North Melbourne – Hawthorn and North Melbourne have been rivals since the 1970s. They both joined the VFL in 1925 and struggled for many years. But in the 1970s, both teams became very strong. They played in three Grand Finals against each other in four years (1975, 1976, and 1978).

Sydney Swans – This rivalry is more recent, starting around 2011. The clubs have met in two Grand Finals. In 2012, Hawthorn was favored but lost to the Swans. The rivalry grew when Hawthorn star Lance Franklin moved to the Swans in 2013. In 2014, the Swans were favored in the Grand Final, but Hawthorn got revenge for 2012, winning by 63 points.

Players

Current Squad

Senior list						Rookie list		Coaching staff
1 Harry Morrison  2 Mitchell Lewis  4 Jarman Impey  5 James Worpel  6 James Sicily  7 Ned Reeves  8 Sam Frost  9 Changkuoth Jiath 10 Karl Amon 11 Conor Nash 12 Will Day 13 Dylan Moore 14 Jack Scrimshaw 15 Blake Hardwick 16 Lachlan Bramble 17 Lloyd Meek 18 Max Lynch 20 Chad Wingard		21 Cooper Stephens 22 Luke Breust 23 Jacob Koschitzke 24 Denver Grainger-Barras 25 Josh Ward 26 Fergus Greene 28 Cameron Mackenzie 29 Jai Serong 30 Sam Butler 31 Connor MacDonald 32 Finn Maginness 33 Tyler Brockman 35 Josh Morris 37 Joshua Weddle 39 Emerson Jeka 42 Bailey Macdonald 43 Jack O'Sullivan 44 Henry Hustwaite				3 Jai Newcombe 27 Ned Long 34 Fionn O'Hara (B) 36 James Blanck 38 Max Ramsden 40 Seamus Mitchell 41 Josh Bennetts (B)		Head coach Sam Mitchell Assistant coaches Andy Collins (head of development) David Hale (midfield) Adrian Hickmott (contest) Chris Newman (forwards) Kade Simpson (backline) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s) (B) Category B rookie Upgraded rookie(s) italics - Inactive player list Long-term injury (ret.) Retired Updated: 10 June 2025 Source(s): HFC website, Coaching staff

Guernsey (Jersey) Retirement

After the 1976 season, Hawthorn retired jersey number 5, worn by former captain Peter Crimmins, who died of cancer. The jersey remained retired until 1993. Since then, the Crimmins family chooses a player they believe should wear number 5.

On March 6, 2011, the club announced that jersey number 1 would be retired as a player number and given as a tribute to the fans. Max Bailey, the last player to wear number 1, made the announcement. However, in 2018, the number was un-retired, and Harry Morrison was chosen to wear it in honor of his late godfather, Ken Judge, who also wore number 1.

Staff

Coaching Staff

Coach	Assistant coaches	Development coaches	General Manager – Football Operations
Sam Mitchell	Kade Simpson (backs) David Hale (midfield) Adrian Hickmott (forwards)	Brett Ratten (head of coaching performance & development) Andrew Collins (head of development) Zach Littlejohn David Mackay Arryn Siposs	Rob McCartney

Officials

President	Vice President	Directors	CEO	General Managers
Andrew Gowers	Katie Hudson	Andrew Kaye James Merlino Luke McCabe Anne–Marie Pellizzer Tim Shearer Ian Silk Luke Stambolis Owen Wilson	Ash Klein	Brooke Boger (GM Communications Digital Media & Marketing) Kerrie Brewer (GM Foundation & Events) Jason Burt (GM People, Culture & Integrity) Tanya Gallina (GM Customer Service & Tasmania) Jerome Lyford (GM Commercial Partnerships & Corporate Sales) Mark McKenzie (National Recruiting Manager) Nick Holland (GM-Legal, Risk & Integrity)

Club Achievements

Premierships

Championships Won
Competition	Level	Wins	Years Won
Australian Football League	Senior Men's	13	1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015
	Reserves (1919–1999)	4	1958, 1959, 1972, 1985
	Under 19s (1946–1991)	1	1972
VFL Women's	Senior Women's	1	2018
Other Trophies and Awards
Championship of Australia	Seniors	1	1971
McClelland Trophy	Multiple	9	1961, 1971, 1984, 1985 (tied), 1986, 1988, 2012, 2013, 2024
VFL Night Series	Seniors	3	1968, 1969, 1977
NFL Night Series	Seniors	1	1976
AFC Night Series	Seniors	2	1985, 1986
AFL Pre-season Competition	Seniors	4	1988, 1991, 1992, 1999
Victorian Junior Football Association	Reserves	1	1924
Victorian Blind Football League	Seniors (Hawthorn)	1	2019, 2024
	Seniors (Brown)	1	2023
Victorian Wheelchair Football League	Seniors	1	2023
Final Standings
Australian Football League	Minor Premierships	9	1961, 1963, 1971, 1975, 1986, 1988, 1989, 2012, 2013
	Grand Final Appearances	6	1963, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2012
	Wooden Spoons	11	1925, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1965

• Hawthorn is the only club in the VFL/AFL to have won Senior Premierships in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s (decade).

VFL/AFL Grand Finals

Date	Coach	Captain	Opponent	Score	Venue	Attendance	Norm Smith Medal
23-Sep-1961	John Kennedy Sr.	Graham Arthur	Footscray	13.16 (94) – 7.9 (51)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	107,935
05-Oct-1963	John Kennedy Sr.	Graham Arthur	Geelong	8.12 (60) – 15.19 (109)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	101,209
25-Sep-1971	John Kennedy Sr.	David Parkin	St Kilda	12.10 (82) – 11.9 (75)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	118,192
27-Sep-1975	John Kennedy Sr.	Don Scott	North Melbourne	9.13 (67) – 19.8 (122)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	110,551
23-Sep-1976	John Kennedy Sr.	Don Scott	North Melbourne	13.22 (100) – 10.10 (70)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	110,143
30-Sep-1978	David Parkin	Don Scott	North Melbourne	18.13 (121) – 15.13 (103)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	101,704
24-Sep-1983	Allan Jeans	Leigh Mathews	Essendon	20.20 (140) – 8.9 (57)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	110,332	Colin Robertson
29-Sep-1984	Allan Jeans	Leigh Mathews	Essendon	12.9 (81) – 14.21 (105)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	92,865	Billy Duckworth (ESS)
28-Sep-1985	Allan Jeans	Leigh Mathews	Essendon	14.8 (92) – 26.14 (170)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	100,042	Simon Madden (ESS)
27-Sep-1986	Allan Jeans	Michael Tuck	Carlton	16.14 (110) – 9.14 (68)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	101,861	Gary Ayres
26-Sep-1987	Allan Jeans	Michael Tuck	Carlton	9.17 (71) – 15.14 (104)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	92,754	David Rhys-Jones (CAR)
24-Sep-1988	Alan Joyce	Michael Tuck	Melbourne	22.20 (152) – 6.20 (56)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	93,754	Gary Ayres
30-Sep-1989	Allan Jeans	Michael Tuck	Geelong	21.18 (144) – 21.12 (138)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	94,796	Gary Ablett Sr. (GEE)
28-Sep-1991	Alan Joyce	Michael Tuck	West Coast	20.19 (139) – 13.8 (86)	Waverley Park	75,230	Paul Dear
27-Sep-2008	Alastair Clarkson	Sam Mitchell	Geelong	18.7 (115) – 11.23 (89)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	100,012	Luke Hodge
29-Sep-2012	Alastair Clarkson	Luke Hodge	Sydney	11.15 (81) – 14.7 (91)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	99,683	Ryan O'Keefe (SYD)
28-Sep-2013	Alastair Clarkson	Luke Hodge	Fremantle	11.11 (77) – 8.14 (62)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	100,007	Brian Lake
27-Sep-2014	Alastair Clarkson	Luke Hodge	Sydney	21.11 (137) – 11.8 (74)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	99,454	Luke Hodge
3-Oct-2015	Alastair Clarkson	Luke Hodge	West Coast	16.11 (107) – 8.13 (61)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	98,632	Cyril Rioli

Team of the Century

Hawthorn Team of the Century

B:	Gary Ayres	Kelvin Moore	Albert Mills
HB:	Col Austen	Chris Mew	Peter Knights
C:	Robert DiPierdomenico	Jim Bohan	Brendan Edwards
HF:	Graham Arthur (Captain)	Dermott Brereton	Gary Buckenara
F:	Jason Dunstall	Peter Hudson	John Platten
Foll:	Don Scott	Michael Tuck	Leigh Matthews
Int:	Chris Langford	Ian Law	Roy Simmonds
	Paul Salmon
Coach:	John Kennedy Sr

Coaches

Category	Name	Total	Years
Most games	Alastair Clarkson	390	2005–2021
Most games won	Alastair Clarkson	228	2005–2021
Most home and away games	Alastair Clarkson	364	2005–2021
Most home and away games won	Alastair Clarkson	212	2005–2021
Most finals	Alastair Clarkson	26	2005–2021
Most finals won	Alastair Clarkson	16	2005–2021
Most Grand Finals	Allan Jeans	6	1981–1987 1989–1990
Most Grand Finals won	Alastair Clarkson	4	2005–2021

Presidents

Here is a list of the presidents of the Hawthorn Football Club.

President	Years
Charles Bethune	1914–1915
W. "Bill" Hulse	1916–1918
Edward Ward	1919
F.O. Small	1920
J."Bill" Kennon	1921–1931
Jacob Jona J.P.	1932–1949
David Prentice	1950–1952
A. "Sandy" Ferguson	1953–1967
Phillip Ryan	1968–1979
Ronald Cook	1980–1987
Trevor Coote	1988–1993
Geoff Lord	1993–1995
Brian Coleman	1995–1996
Ian Dicker	1996–2004
Jeff Kennett AC	2005–2011
Andrew Newbold	2012–2016
Richard Garvey	2016–2017
Jeff Kennett AC	2017–2022
Andrew Gowers	2022–present

Player Awards and Records

Individual Player Awards

Peter Crimmins Medal ("Best & Fairest") winners

This award is given to Hawthorn's best and fairest player each season. It's named after former captain Peter Crimmins, who sadly died of cancer shortly after the club's 1976 premiership win. (See Peter Crimmins Medal for the full list of winners.)

Brownlow Medal
Awarded since 1924 for the league's best and fairest player.

• Col Austen – 1949
• Robert DiPierdomenico – 1986
• John Platten – 1987
• Shane Crawford – 1999
• Sam Mitchell – 2012
• Tom Mitchell – 2018

Leigh Matthews Trophy
Awarded since 2002 (retrospectively to 1982) for the league's most valuable player.

• Leigh Matthews – 1982
• Russell Greene – 1984
• Jason Dunstall – 1992
• Shane Crawford – 1999
• Tom Mitchell – 2018

Norm Smith Medal
Awarded since 1979 for the best player in the Grand Final.

• Colin Robertson – 1983
• Gary Ayres – 1986, 1988
• Paul Dear – 1991
• Luke Hodge – 2008, 2014
• Brian Lake – 2013
• Cyril Rioli – 2015

Coleman Medal
Awarded since 1981 (retrospectively to 1955) for the league's leading goal-kicker.

• John Peck – 1963, 1964, 1965
• Peter Hudson – 1968, 1970, 1971, 1977
• Leigh Matthews – 1975
• Jason Dunstall – 1988, 1989, 1992
• Lance Franklin – 2008, 2011
• Jarryd Roughead – 2013

Ron Evans Medal
Awarded since 1993 for the league's best young player (Rising Star).

• Nick Holland – 1995
• Sam Mitchell – 2003

All-Australian Team
Awarded since 1991 for the best players in their positions across the league.

• Jason Dunstall – 1992, 1994
• Darren Jarman – 1992, 1995
• John Platten – 1992
• Ben Allan – 1993, 1994
• Chris Langford – 1994
• Shane Crawford – 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002
• Paul Salmon – 1997
• Jonathan Hay – 2001
• Joel Smith – 2001, 2003
• Trent Croad – 2005
• Peter Everitt – 2005
• Luke Hodge – 2005, 2008, 2010
• Campbell Brown – 2007
• Lance Franklin – 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Sam Mitchell – 2011, 2013, 2015
• Grant Birchall – 2012
• Cyril Rioli – 2012, 2015, 2016
• Jarryd Roughead – 2013, 2014
• Luke Breust – 2014, 2018
• Jordan Lewis – 2014
• Josh Gibson – 2015
• Tom Mitchell – 2017, 2018
• Jack Gunston – 2018
• James Sicily – 2023
• Dylan Moore – 2024

Player Records

Bold means the player still plays for Hawthorn.

No.	Name	Years	Total
1	Michael Tuck	1972–1991	426
2	Leigh Matthews	1969–1985	332
3	Sam Mitchell	2002–2016	307
4	Shane Crawford	1992–2008	305
	Luke Hodge	2002–2017	305
6	Chris Langford	1983–1997	303
7	Don Scott	1967–1981	302
8	Luke Breust	2009–	300
	Kelvin Moore	1970–1984	300
10	Jarryd Roughead	2005–2019	283

No.	Name	Years	Total
1	Jason Dunstall	1985–1998	1,254
2	Leigh Matthews	1969–1985	915
3	Peter Hudson	1967–1974, 1977	727
4	Michael Moncrieff	1971–1983	629
5	Lance Franklin	2005–2013	580
6	Jarryd Roughead	2005–2019	578
7	Luke Breust	2009–	549
8	John Peck	1954–1966	475
9	Jack Gunston	2012–2022, 2024	439
10	Dermott Brereton	1982–1992	427

Season Records
Statistic	Total	Name	Year
Disposals	848	Tom Mitchell	2018
Kicks	599	Terry Wallace	1983
Handballs	480	Tom Mitchell	2017
Marks	207	Jason Dunstall	1989
		Josh Gibson	2015
Goals	150	Peter Hudson	1971
Behinds	88	Lance Franklin	2008
Hitouts	759	Lloyd Meek	2024
Tackles	162	Liam Shiels	2015
Rebounds	179	James Sicily	2022
Inside 50s	133	James Worpel	2024
Clearances	192	Tom Mitchell	2018
Contested possessions	388	Tom Mitchell	2018
Uncontested possessions	504	Tom Mitchell	2021
Contested marks	64	Lance Franklin	2008
Marks inside 50	125	Lance Franklin	2008
One percenters	259	Josh Gibson	2011
Goal assists	33	Dylan Moore	2024

Game Records
Statistic	Total	Name	Game
Disposals	54	Tom Mitchell	vs. Collingwood, Round 1, 2018 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Kicks	38	Leigh Matthews	vs. Essendon, Round 3, 1978 at Waverley Park
Handballs	34	Tom Mitchell	vs. Collingwood, Round 1, 2018 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Marks	20	Danny Jacobs	vs. Brisbane Lions, Round 1, 2007 at The Gabba
Goals	17	Jason Dunstall	vs. Richmond, Round 7, 1992 at Waverley Park
Behinds	11	Lance Franklin	vs. Western Bulldogs, Round 21, 2007 at Docklands Stadium
Hitouts	53	Ben McEvoy	vs. Melbourne, Round 7, 2017 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
			vs. Greater Western Sydney, Round 16, 2017 at York Park
Tackles	17	Liam Shiels	vs. West Coast, Round 19, 2015 at Subiaco Oval
Rebounds	15	Luke Hodge	vs. Essendon, Round 20, 2006 at Docklands Stadium
		James Sicily	vs. Adelaide, Round 1, 2019 at Adelaide Oval
			vs. Greater Western Sydney, Round 16, 2022 at Sydney Showground Stadium
Inside 50s	12	Clinton Young	vs. Melbourne, Round 2, 2011 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
		Liam Shiels	vs. Brisbane Lions, Round 17, 2018 at York Park
Clearances	22	Paul Salmon	vs. North Melbourne, Round 13, 1998 at Waverley Park
Contested possessions	27	Tom Mitchell	vs. Collingwood, Round 1, 2018 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Uncontested possessions	36	Sam Mitchell	vs West Coast, Round 5, 2009 at York Park
Contested marks	8	Nathan Thompson	vs. St Kilda, Round 13, 2002 at Docklands Stadium
		Nick Holland	vs. St Kilda, Round 10, 2003 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Marks inside 50	11	Nick Holland	vs. Adelaide, Round 21, 2000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
One percenters	21	Josh Gibson	vs. Sydney, Semi-final, 2011 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Goal assists	6	Luke Breust	vs. Sydney, Round 7, 2013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Team Records
Record	Total	Game
Highest score	36.15 (231)	vs. Fitzroy, Round 6, 1991 at North Hobart Oval
Lowest score	1.7 (13)	vs. Melbourne, Round 9, 1926 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Highest score conceded	30.30 (210)	vs. Carlton, Round 2, 1969 at Princes Park
Lowest score conceded	2.5 (17)	vs. Brisbane Bears, Round 12, 1988 at Princes Park
Biggest win	165 points	vs. Port Adelaide, Round 21, 2011 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Biggest loss	141 points	vs. Melbourne, Round 9, 1926 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Consecutive wins	12	Round 9, 1961 – Grand Final, 1961
		Round 2, 2013 – Round 14, 2013
Consecutive finals won	6	Qualifying final, 2013 – Grand Final, 2014
Consecutive losses	27	Round 16, 1927 – Round 6, 1929
Consecutive finals lost	4	Elimination final, 1992 – Qualifying final, 1996
		Qualifying final, 2016 – Semi-final, 2018
Consecutive finals appearances	13	1982–1994
Consecutive Grand Final appearances	7	1983–1989
Consecutive Grand Final victories	3	2013–2015
Highest attendance	118,192	vs. St Kilda, Grand Final, 1971 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Highest home-and-away attendance	92,935	vs. Collingwood, Round 11, 1981 at Waverley Park

Hall of Fame

Australian Football Hall of Fame

Hawthorn has 25 people in the Australian Football Hall of Fame (22 players, 3 coaches) who played a big part in the club's history.

Bold means they have "legend" status.

Hawthorn Football Club Hall of Famers
Players
Name	Years	Games	Goals	Inducted	Name	Years	Games	Goals	Inducted
Graham Arthur	1955–1968	232	201	1996	Albert Chadwick	1929	17	8	1996
Peter Hudson	1967–1974 1977	129	727	1996	Peter Knights	1969–1985	264	201	1996
Leigh Matthews	1969–1985	332	915	1996	Dan Minogue	1926	1	2	1996
Michael Tuck	1971–1991	426	320	1996	Gary Ayres	1978–1993	269	70	1999
Dermott Brereton	1982–1992	189	427	1999	Don Scott	1967–1981	302	133	2001
Jason Dunstall	1985–1998	269	1,254	2002	John Platten	1986–1998	258	228	2003
Gary Ablett Sr.	1981–1983	6	10	2005	Kelvin Moore	1970–1984	300	21	2005
Robert DiPierdomenico	1975–1991	240	130	2007	Darren Jarman	1991–1995	109	122	2007
Chris Langford	1983–1997	300	33	2009	Shane Crawford	1992–2008	305	224	2012
Rick Davies	1981	20	37	2013	Paul Salmon	1996–2000	100	41	2016
Terry Wallace	1978–1986	174	96	2018	Sam Mitchell	2002–2016	307	67	2023
Coaches
Name	Years	Games	Wins	Inducted	Name	Years	Games	Wins	Inducted
Allan Jeans	1981–1987 1989–1990	221	159	1996	John Kennedy Sr.	1957 1960–1963 1967–1976	299	181	1996
David Parkin	1977–1980	94	57	2002

Hawthorn Football Club Hall of Fame

This is a list of everyone who has been inducted into the club's own Hall of Fame.

Bold means they have "legend" status.

Home Grounds and Training Bases

Throughout its history, Hawthorn Football Club has had four main home grounds: Glenferrie Oval, Princes Park, Waverley Park, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Glenferrie Oval: (Home Games 1906–1973), (Training and Offices 1906–2006)

From 1906 to 1973, Hawthorn played home games at Glenferrie Oval. This oval was important because it helped the club join the VFA in 1914 and the VFL in 1925. The oval was expanded and new stands were built over the years. The famous art-deco Grandstand, built in 1937, is now called the Michael Tuck stand.

The club stopped playing VFL matches at Glenferrie Oval in 1973 because the crowds were getting too big. From 1974 to 2006, the club used it for training and offices. In 2008, Hawthorn celebrated their 10th premiership at Glenferrie Oval with over 20,000 fans.

Princes Park: 1974–1991

Moving from Glenferrie Oval to Princes Park was hard for many fans. Princes Park was the home of the Carlton Football Club. Even though the Hawks won many premierships there, most fans didn't like the move because it was far from their traditional area.

Waverley Park: (Home Games 1992–1999), (Training and Offices 2006–Present)

In 1990, Hawthorn started playing some home games at Waverley Park. This was the site of their 1991 Premiership win. Even though the team's success dropped, more fans started coming to games and membership increased. When Waverley Park was closed and sold, Hawthorn decided to move its home games to the MCG. In 2006, the club's offices and training moved to Waverley Park.

Melbourne Cricket Ground: 2000–Present

On March 13, 2000, Hawthorn played its first home game as an MCG tenant. Since 2000, Hawthorn has played most of its home games at the MCG. They also play some games at Docklands Stadium and York Park in Tasmania.

York Park: 2001–Present

Since 2001, Hawthorn has played "secondary" home games at York Park in Tasmania. They have a very good record there, winning many games. This agreement with the Tasmanian government has helped Hawthorn gain many fans in Tasmania.

VFL Women's Team

Hawthorn's women's team joined the VFL Women's (VFLW) competition. In 2018, the Hawthorn women's team won the 2018 VFLW premiership, beating Geelong.

2018 VFLW Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	4	6	30
Geelong	2	5	17
Venue: Etihad Stadium	Crowd: 10,000 est.

The VFLW team plays most of its home games at Box Hill City Oval. This allows Hawthorn fans to support both the men's and women's teams.

Reserves Team

Hawthorn
Names
Full name	Hawthorn Football Club Limited
1999 season
Home-and-away season	10th
Club details
Founded	1924
Dissolved	1999
Competition	AFL reserves
Premierships	VFL/AFL reserves (7) 1958 1959 1972 1985 2001 2013 2018
Ground(s)	Waverley Park
Former ground(s)	Princes Park
Uniforms
Home

The Hawthorn reserves team was the club's second team. They played in the AFL reserves competition until it ended.

Since 2000, Hawthorn has worked with the Box Hill Football Club in the Victorian Football League. Hawthorn players not chosen for the AFL team can play for Box Hill. Box Hill has won three premierships since this partnership began (2001, 2013, and 2018).

Under-19s Team

1972 VFL Grand Final Under-19s	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	13	23	101
North Melbourne	13	20	98
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground

Hawthorn had a team in the VFL Under-19s competition. They played in two Grand Finals, losing in 1969 but winning in 1972 against North Melbourne.

Other Teams

Hawthorn also has a team in the Victorian Blind Football League. This team won the 2019 premiership. In 2023, Hawthorn had two blind football teams, Hawthorn Gold and Hawthorn Brown. Brown beat Gold in the 2023 Grand Final. In 2024, they combined into a single Hawthorn team.

In Spanish: Hawthorn Football Club para niños