The 2020 Hawthorn Football Club season was the club's 96th season in the Australian Football League and 119th overall, the 21st season playing home games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 20th season playing home games at the University of Tasmania Stadium, the 16th season under head coach Alastair Clarkson, and the 2nd season with Ben Stratton as club captain. With Jarryd Roughead and Grant Birchall departing this season was the first to not have any player from Hawthorn's 2008 premiership team on the list.
On 16 March 2020, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan announced that the season would be shortened to 17 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During Hawthorn's round 1 match with the Brisbane Lions, it was announced that the season would be suspended following the conclusion of the round, with the suspension to last until 31 May 2020. The season recommenced on 11 June 2020. Due to COVID-19, Hawthorn would only play two matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and no matches at the University of Tasmania Stadium. From round 13 until the end of the season, the Hawks would base themselves in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, playing home games at the Adelaide Oval.
A 10–point loss to Port Adelaide in round 13 meant that Hawthorn would fail to win 10 games in a season since 2009.
Hawthorn finished in fifteenth–place with a 5–12 record. Meaning for the first time since 2006 the club would fail to qualify for finals in consecutive seasons. This was also the first time since 2005, Hawthorn would finish in the bottom four.
Club summary The 2020 AFL season was the 124th season of the VFL/AFL competition since its inception in 1897; having entered the competition in 1925, it was the 96th season contested by the Hawthorn Football Club. Tasmania and iiNet continued as the club's two major sponsors, as they have done since 2006 and 2013 respectively, while Adidas continued to manufacture the club's on-and-off field apparel, as they have done since 2013. Hawthorn continued its alignment with the Box Hill Hawks Football Club in the Victorian Football League, however due to COVID-19, the VFL season was cancelled.
Senior personnel On 26 August 2019, the club announced that assistant coach Darren Glass would be leaving the club to join West Coast as the club's list manager. A couple of days later it was announced that former assistant coach and Carlton coach, Brendon Bolton would return to the club as director of coaching. On 23 May 2020, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The club was forced to stand down all but 25 staff members. This included head of development and learning Damian Carroll, VFL coach Max Bailey, VFLW coach Bec Goddard and development coaches Torin Baker, Marco Bello and Brett Deledio.
Playing list changes
Trades 11 October 2019 To Sam FrostPick 42, 2019 AFL draftPick 61, 2019 AFL draft4th round pick, 2020 AFL draft To Pick 50, 2019 AFL draft2nd round pick, 2020 AFL draft 15 October 2019 To Jonathon Patton To 4th round pick, 2020 AFL draft (via ) 16 October 2019 To Pick 54, 2019 AFL draft (via )Pick 63, 2019 AFL draft (via ) To Marc Pittonet Pick 61, 2019 AFL draft (via ) 20 November 2019 To Pick 50, 2019 AFL draftPick 73, 2019 AFL draft2nd round pick, 2020 AFL draft To Pick 30, 2019 AFL draft 28 November 2019 To 3rd round pick, 2020 AFL draft (via ) To Pick 43, 2019 AFL draft 28 November 2019 To 4th round pick, 2020 AFL draft To Pick 62, 2019 AFL draft
Free agency Additions Date Player F/A Type Former Club Deal Compensation Ref 29 November 2019 Michael Hartley Essendon N/A None 29 November 2019 Harry Pepper N/A N/A None 6 March 2020 Keegan Brooksby West Coast 1-year deal none
Departures Date Player F/A Type New Club Deal Compensation Ref 10 October 2019 Grant Birchall Unrestricted Brisbane Lions Signed 1-year deal None
Draft
AFL draft Round Overall pick Player Recruited from ref 1 13 Will Day West Adelaide 2 29 Finn Maginness Sandringham Dragons 4 57 Josh Morris Woodville-West Torrens
Rookie draft Round Overall pick Player Recruited from ref 1 9 Emerson Jeka Western Jets
Retirements and delistings Date Player 2020 team Reason Ref 29 October 2018 Will Langford Retired 12 August 2019 Jarryd Roughead Retired 17 October 2019 Kaiden Brand Sydney Delisted 17 October 2019 Teia Miles Delisted 17 October 2019 David Mirra Delisted 17 October 2019 Tim Mohr Retired 18 October 2019 Ryan Schoenmakers Retired
2020 player squad
Marsh Community series Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Hawthorn's scores indicated in bold) Venue Report Home Away Result 1 Thursday, 20 February (7:10 pm) St Kilda 17.9 (111) 13.12 (90) Lost by 21 points RSEA Park Report 2 Friday, 6 March (7:40 pm) Melbourne 6.13 (49) 12.9 (81) Lost by 32 points University of Tasmania Stadium Report
Home & Away season Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Hawthorn's scores indicated in bold) Venue Record Report Home Away Result 1 Sunday, 22 March (3:20 pm) Brisbane Lions 14.6 (90) 9.8 (62) Won by 28 points Melbourne Cricket Ground 1–0 Report 2 Friday, 12 June (7:50 pm) Geelong 17.6 (108) 7.5 (47) Lost by 61 points GMHBA Stadium 1–1 Report 3 Thursday, 18 June (7:40 pm) Richmond 5.9 (39) 11.5 (71) Won by 32 points Melbourne Cricket Ground 2–1 Report 4 Sunday, 28 June (6:10 pm) North Melbourne 8.10 (58) 8.6 (54) Won by 4 points Marvel Stadium 3–1 Report 5 Sunday, 5 July (6:10 pm) Greater Western Sydney 13.5 (83) 7.7 (49) Lost by 34 points GIANTS Stadium 3–2 Report 6 Friday, 10 July (7:50 pm) Collingwood 8.11 (59) 3.9 (27) Lost by 32 points GIANTS Stadium 3–3 Report 7 Sunday, 19 July (3:35 pm) Melbourne 7.6 (48) 14.7 (91) Lost by 43 points GIANTS Stadium 3–4 Report 8 Saturday, 25 July (3:35 pm) Sydney 9.6 (60) 7.11 (53) Lost by 7 points Sydney Cricket Ground 3–5 Report 9 Friday, 31 July (3:40 pm) Carlton 9.4 (58) 14.5 (89) Won by 31 points Optus Stadium 4–5 Report 10 Bye 11 Monday, 10 August (6:40 pm) Fremantle 7.6 (48) 4.8 (32) Lost by 16 points Optus Stadium 4–6 Report 12 Sunday, 16 August (4:10 pm) West Coast 12.9 (81) 7.7 (49) Lost by 32 points Optus Stadium 4–7 Report 13 Saturday, 22 August (4:05 pm) Port Adelaide 9.14 (68) 9.4 (58) Lost by 10 points Adelaide Oval 4–8 Report 14 Thursday, 27 August (4:10 pm) Essendon 10.11 (71) 13.9 (87) Lost by 16 points Adelaide Oval 4–9 Report 15 Tuesday, 1 September (5:10 pm) Adelaide 7.6 (48) 12.11 (83) Lost by 35 points Adelaide Oval 4–10 Report 16 Sunday, 6 September (1:05 pm) St Kilda 11.14 (80) 9.12 (66) Lost by 14 points Metricon Stadium 4–11 Report 17 Sunday, 13 September (3:05 pm) Western Bulldogs 6.4 (40) 11.10 (76) Lost by 36 points Adelaide Oval 4–12 Report 18 Sunday, 20 September (12:35 pm) Gold Coast 17.6 (108) 8.9 (57) Won by 51 points Adelaide Oval 5–12 Report
Ladder
Awards, records and milestones Awards Club Awards Peter Crimmins Medal: Jack Gunston Most consistent player: Jack Gunston Most improved player: Jack Scrimshaw Best clubman: Paul Puopolo Best first year player (debut season): Will Day
Records
Club records Most tackles: 1,288 – Liam Shiels Most goal assists: 199 – Luke Breust Most games coached: 368 – Alastair Clarkson Most victories coached: 221 – Alastair Clarkson Most home and away games coached: 342 – Alastair Clarkson Most home and away victories coached: 205 – Alastair Clarkson
Milestones Round 1 Tim O'Brien – 50th AFL goal. Sam Frost – Hawthorn debut. Jonathon Patton – Hawthorn debut. Jonathon Patton – 1st goal for Hawthorn.
Round 3 Jack Gunston – 350th goal for Hawthorn. Chad Wingard – 250th AFL goal. Jaeger O'Meara – 50th game for Hawthorn.
Round 4 Tom Mitchell – 50th game for Hawthorn.
Round 5 Harrison Jones – AFL debut.
Round 6 Will Day – AFL debut. Josh Morris – AFL debut.
Round 7 Darren Minchington – Hawthorn debut. Josh Morris – 1st AFL goal.
Round 8 Jack Gunston – 200th AFL game. Keegan Brooksby – Hawthorn debut.
Round 9 Luke Breust – 400th AFL goal. Sam Frost – 100th AFL game. Jaeger O'Meara – 100th AFL game. Will Day – 1st AFL goal.
Round 13 Shaun Burgoyne – 300th AFL goal. Ben Stratton – 200th AFL game. Michael Hartley – Hawthorn debut.
Round 14 Darren Minchington – 1st goal for Hawthorn.
Round 16 Damon Greaves – AFL debut.
Round 17 Finn Maginness – AFL debut.
Round 18 James Frawley – 100th game for Hawthorn.
References