Hawthorn

Establishment and history

Hawthorn’s early history involved changes of competition, ground and playing strip. Brown and gold arrived with VFA entry in 1914; the present club’s origins reach back to 1902. VFL admission followed alongside Footscray and North Melbourne in 1925.

The first VFL premiership did not arrive until 1961. The honours list then shows several successful eras, including the 1980s and the three consecutive AFL titles of 2013–15. That long interval between admission and the first flag is part of the Hawks’ story, rather than something the later success erases.

Official club history and milestones.

A short club timeline

1. 1902The present club is formed.
2. 1914–25VFA entry and brown-and-gold colours; later VFL admission.
3. 1961First VFL premiership.
4. 2013–15Three consecutive AFL premierships.

Place these milestones in the wider Australian football history timeline, including league expansion and club changes.

Home ground and identity

Glenferrie Oval is an important historic home. Modern match allocations include the MCG and Launceston, so use the season’s fixture to identify the actual venue.

For a particular match, use the current AFL fixture. The facts above identify the principal venues and club colours.

Honours

Senior men’s VFL/AFL premiership years through 2026: 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015

Source: AFL premiership winners, 1897–2026. This is a league-specific record: it excludes AFLW, VFA, SANFL, reserves and pre-season titles.

Sources and scope

Reviewed 4 November 2026. Official club history; AFL historical chronology; AFL match-venue information; AFL honours register. Men’s team reference profile, with heritage noted where necessary. Current squads, captains and coaches are deliberately separate season-specific subjects.