2022 – The Inaugural Dare to Hope Match

True to their reputation as the family club,  Hawthorn Football Club stepped up in 2022 to support one of their own — premiership hero and 1991 Norm Smith Medallist Paul Dear — and his family, by embracing the first ever Dare to Hope Match.

Held on 17 July 2022, just nine days after Paul’s passing from pancreatic cancer, the day was a powerful tribute to his life and legacy.

Only weeks earlier, Paul had spoken with Hawthorn’s inner sanctum in a moving session guided by his close friend and former teammate, Hawthorn Head of Development Andy Collins. With his trademark black humour, honesty, and courage, Paul shared openly about facing a terminal diagnosis — leaving a lasting impact on players and staff.

The game itself, against the West Coast Eagles, carried special meaning. It was a rematch of the 1991 Grand Final, where Paul etched his name in Hawthorn history with his Norm Smith Medal performance and premiership glory. On this day in 2022, Hawthorn once again emerged victorious.

In a fitting tribute, the inaugural Paul Dear Memorial Medal, awarded to the most courageous Hawthorn player of the Dare to Hope Match, went to Dylan Moore, who wore Paul’s old No. 13 guernsey with pride. At the President’s Lunch, Paul’s wife Cherie Dear shared his story and the vision for Dare to Hope, highlighting why awareness and research for pancreatic cancer are so urgently needed.

Hawthorn Football Club’s support helped launch what has become a meaningful annual tradition — a celebration of courage, community, and hope.