The 2016 season was the Hawthorn Football Club's 92nd season in the Australian Football League and 115th overall, the 17th season playing home games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 16th season playing home games at Aurora Stadium, the 12th season under head coach Alastair Clarkson, and the 6th season with Luke Hodge as club captain. Hawthorn entered the season as the three-time defending AFL premiers, having won back-to-back-to-back AFL premierships.
Hawthorn improved on its 16–6 record in 2015, finishing in 3rd with a record. The 19 point win over in round 19 clinched a finals series appearance for the 7th consecutive season. The 1 point win over in round 23 clinched a double chance for the 6th consecutive season.
Hawthorn were defeated by 83–85 in the qualifying final. Isaac Smith had the chance to win the game with a goal after the siren but hooked the kick right of the goal. This ended a three-game finals winning streak. It was also the second consecutive season Hawthorn were defeated in the Qualifying final. Hawthorn were eliminated from the finals by the eventual premiers 84–107 in the semi-final, ending their chances of a four-peat, the second four-peat in VFL/AFL history after (1927–1930), and the first four-peat in the AFL era. Hawthorn became the 6th team since the introduction of the AFL final eight system to be eliminated in straight-sets, joining (2001), (2007), and (2014), and (2015). This was the first time since 2010 Hawthorn didn't win a final, the first time since 2010 Hawthorn didn't advance to the preliminary final, and the first time since 2011 Hawthorn didn't advance to the AFL Grand Final.
Club summary The 2016 AFL season is the 120th season of the VFL/AFL competition since its inception in 1897; having entered the competition in 1925, it was the 92nd season contested by the Hawthorn Football Club. Tasmania and iiNet continued as the club's two major sponsors, as they had done since 2006 and 2013 respectively, while Adidas continued to manufacture the club's on-and-off field apparel, as they had done since 2013. Hawthorn continued its alignment with the Box Hill Hawks Football Club in the Victorian Football League, allowing Hawthorn-listed players to play with the Box Hill Hawks when not selected in AFL matches.
Senior personnel Alastair Clarkson continued as the club's head coach for the twelfth consecutive season, while Luke Hodge continued as the club's captain for the sixth consecutive season. Both have held their respective positions since 2005 and 2011, respectively.
There were several changes to the coaching panel following the end of last season, the most notable of which was Brendon Bolton's departure from the club towards the end of the season to become the head coach of the Carlton Football Club. On 20 October 2015, recent retiree Chris Newman joined the club as a development coach, replacing Damian Carroll who was promoted to assistant coach alongside Alastair Clarkson.
On 2 February 2016, Andrew Newbold stepped down as the club's president, and was replaced in the role by vice-captain Richard Garvey.
Playing list changes The following lists all player changes between the conclusion of the 2015 season and the beginning of the 2016 season.
Trades 16 October 2015 To Pick 15, 2015 AFL draftPick 55, 2015 AFL draft To Jed AndersonPick 38, 2015 AFL draftPick 40, 2015 AFL draft 21 October 2015 To Jack Fitzpatrick To Pick 94, 2015 AFL draft 22 October 2015 To Pick 48, 2015 AFL draft To Pick 55, 2015 AFL draftPick 58, 2015 AFL draft
Free Agency Departures DatePlayerType2016 teamDealCompensationRef10 October 2015Matt SucklingWestern BulldogsSigned 3-year dealEnd of 2nd round pick, 2015 AFL draft
Draft
AFL draft RoundOverall pickPlayerRecruited fromref119Ryan BurtonNorth Adelaide122Kieran LovellTigers FC344Blake HardwickEastern Ranges
Rookie draft RoundOverall pickPlayerRecruited fromref118Luke SurmanNorwood236Kade StewartSouth Fremantle352Alex WoodwardHawthorn462Conor GlassDerry GAA
Retirements and delistings DatePlayer2016 teamReasonRef6 October 2015Brian LakeN/ARetired6 October 2015David HaleN/ARetired8 October 2015Sam GrimleyEssendonDelisted8 October 2015Jared HardistyN/ADelisted8 October 2015Jonathan SimpkinEssendonDelisted
2016 player squad
Season summary Pre-season matches The club played three practice matches as part of the 2016 NAB Challenge, and will be played under modified pre-season rules, including nine-point goals. They finished the NAB Challenge with a record of 2–1, defeating and on either side of a heavy loss to .
Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Hawthorn's scores indicated in bold) Venue Home Away Result 1 Thursday, 18 February (7:10 pm) 0.8.5 (53) 0.4.8 (32) Won by 21 points Aurora Stadium (H) 2 Saturday, 27 February (4:40 pm) 1.15.5 (104) 0.4.9 (33) Lost by 71 points Holm Park Recreation Reserve (A) 3 Saturday, 12 March (7:10 pm) 2.16.11 (125) 0.12.8 (80) Won by 45 points Etihad Stadium (H) Source
Premiership season Fixture summary
The full fixture was announced on 29 October 2015. The Melbourne Cricket Ground once again acted as Hawthorn's primary home ground, hosting seven of the club's eleven home games, while four games were played at their secondary home ground, Aurora Stadium, in Launceston. The club's four games at Aurora Stadium were against , , and in rounds 4, 8, 14 and 19 respectively, while the club played the West Coast Eagles, , , and twice during the regular season.
For the second consecutive year, and the third in the past four years, the club opened its season with an Easter Monday clash against at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; it was also the first time since 2011 in which it started a season with an away match, and, due to the weighted rule, it was the only time the two teams met during the regular season. Its first home game came the following round, when they faced the West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 2015 AFL Grand Final rematch. Their match against , scheduled for Round 6, was once again played at Spotless Stadium in Sydney, while the club travelled to the Gabba for the first time since 2008 to take on the Brisbane Lions in the AFL's Indigenous Round. In addition, the club also played consecutive Thursday night away matches against and in Rounds 16 and 17 respectively, and played six Friday night matches throughout the regular season, the equal most of any club.
Fixture Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Hawthorn's scores indicated in bold) Venue Record Report Home Away Result 1 Monday, 28 March (3:20 pm) 18.8 (116) 12.14 (86) Lost by 30 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (A) 0–1 Report 2 Sunday, 3 April (3:20 pm) 14.15 (99) 7.11 (53) Won by 46 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 1–1 Report 3 Sunday, 10 April (3:20 pm) 13.12 (90) 14.9 (93) Won by 3 points Etihad Stadium (A) 2–1 Report 4 Saturday, 16 April (2:10 pm) 13.9 (87) 13.6 (84) Won by 3 points Aurora Stadium (H) 3–1 Report 5 Friday, 22 April (7:50 pm) 17.10 (112) 17.7 (109) Won by 3 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 4–1 Report 6 Saturday, 30 April (4:35 pm) 24.14 (158) 12.11 (83) Lost by 75 points Spotless Stadium (A) 4–2 Report 7 Friday, 6 May (7:50 pm) 13.12 (90) 21.10 (136) Won by 46 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (A) 5–2 Report 8 Saturday, 14 May (2:10 pm) 17.14 (116) 11.9 (75) Won by 41 points Aurora Stadium (H) 6–2 Report 9 Friday, 20 May (7:50 pm) 7.13 (55) 10.9 (69) Lost by 14 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 6–3 Report 10 Saturday, May 28 (1:45 pm) 13.9 (87) 21.9 (135) Won by 48 points The Gabba (A) 7–3 Report 11 Saturday, 4 June (1:45 pm) 11.16 (82) 10.4 (64) Won by 18 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 8–3 Report 12 Friday, 10 June (7:50 pm) 6.7 (43) 23.13 (151) Won by 108 points Etihad Stadium (A) 9–3 Report 13 Friday, 17 June (7:50 pm) 11.18 (84) 14.9 (93) Won by 9 points Etihad Stadium (A) 10–3 Report 14 Sunday, 26 June (3:20 pm) 12.14 (86) 8.12 (60) Won by 26 points Aurora Stadium (H) 11–3 Report 15 Bye 16 Thursday, 7 July (7:20 pm) 12.7 (79) 15.11 (101) Won by 22 points Adelaide Oval (A) 12–3 Report 17 Thursday, 14 July (7:20 pm) 10.10 (70) 11.9 (75) Won by 5 points Sydney Cricket Ground (A) 13–3 Report 18 Sunday, 24 July (3:20 pm) 16.18 (114) 5.14 (44) Won by 70 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 14–3 Report 19 Saturday, 30 July (2:10 pm) 10.14 (74) 7.13 (55) Won by 19 points Aurora Stadium (H) 15–3 Report 20 Saturday, 6 August (2:10 pm) 17.8 (110) 11.15 (81) Lost by 29 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (A) 15–4 Report 21 Saturday, 13 August (2:10 pm) 14.12 (96) 8.9 (57) Won by 39 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 16–4 Report 22 Friday, 19 August (6:10 pm) 13.14 (92) 10.7 (67) Lost by 25 points Domain Stadium (A) 16–5 Report 23 Sunday, 28 August (3:20 pm) 17.10 (112) 17.9 (111) Won by 1 point Melbourne Cricket Ground (H) 17–5 Report Source
Ladder
Finals
Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Hawthorn's scores indicated in bold) Venue Recap Home Away Result Qualifying final Friday, 9 September (7:50 pm) 12.13 (85) 12.11 (83) Lost by 2 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)Recap Semi-final Friday, 16 September (7:50 pm) 12.12 (84) 16.11 (107) Lost by 23 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (H)Recap
Awards, records and milestones Awards Peter Crimmins Medal Sam Mitchell 2016 All-Australian team Cyril Rioli Round 13 James Sicily – 2016 AFL Rising Star nominee
Records Round 11: Hawthorn made 109 tackles in its win over , which is the highest number of tackles it has ever recorded in an AFL premiership match. Round 20: Hawthorn's 29-point loss to Melbourne ended a 13-game winning streak against that club dating back to Round 2, 2007.
Milestones Round 1: Marc Pittonet – AFL debut Paul Puopolo – 100th AFL goal Round 2: Josh Gibson – 1st AFL goal for Hawthorn Round 4: Sam Mitchell – most possessions in a single match in his career (44) Round 5: Shaun Burgoyne – 300th AFL game Round 6: Kieran Lovell – AFL debut Daniel Howe – first AFL goal Round 7: Kaiden Brand – AFL debut Round 10: Jordan Lewis – 250th AFL game Round 11: Josh Gibson – 200th AFL game Kade Stewart – AFL debut Round 12: Shaun Burgoyne – 150th club game for Hawthorn Luke Breust – 250th AFL goal Jack Gunston – 250th AFL goal Round 16: Cyril Rioli – 250th AFL goal Round 17: Shaun Burgoyne – 250th AFL goal Round 18: Sam Mitchell – 300th AFL game Round 19: Blake Hardwick – AFL debut Round 20: Kurt Heatherley – AFL debut Round 21: Ryan Burton – AFL debut Round 22: Jonathon Ceglar – 50th AFL game Round 23: Jack Fitzpatrick – first AFL game for Hawthorn (previously with ) Qualifying Final Ryan Schoenmakers – 100th AFL game
Brownlow Medal
Results Round 1 vote 2 votes 3 votes 1 Sam Mitchell () Joel Selwood () Patrick Dangerfield () 2 Cyril Rioli () Sam Mitchell () Josh Gibson () 3 Sam Mitchell () Marcus Adams () Luke Dahlhaus () 4 Nick Riewoldt ( David Armitage () Sam Mitchell () 5 Cyril Rioli () Scott Thompson () Paul Puopolo () 6 Steve Johnson () Callan Ward () Rory Lobb () 7 Luke Breust () Jack Gunston () Jordan Lewis () 8 Josh Gibson () Isaac Smith () Lachie Neale () 9 Jack Gunston () Luke Parker () Dan Hannebery () 10 Josh Gibson () Cyril Rioli () Jordan Lewis () 11 Nathan Jones () Josh Gibson () Bernie Vince () 12 Jack Gunston () Grant Birchall () Jordan Lewis () 13 Jordan Lewis () Daniel Wells () James Sicily () 14 Tom Lynch () Sam Mitchell () Gary Ablett, Jr. () 15 Bye 16 Robbie Gray () Cyril Rioli () Luke Hodge () 17 Josh Kennedy () Sam Mitchell () Shaun Burgoyne () 18 Dustin Martin () Sam Mitchell () Josh Gibson () 19 Jordan Lewis () Patrick Cripps () Shaun Burgoyne () 20 Cyril Rioli () Max Gawn () Jack Viney () 21 Andrew Swallow () Isaac Smith () Sam Mitchell () 22 Jeremy McGovern () Josh Kennedy () Andrew Gaff () 23 Cyril Rioli () Shaun Burgoyne () Adam Treloar ()
Brownlow Medal tally