"We've marvelled at the achievement of our players over the last three years ... to win three in a row," Clarkson said following the Hawks' loss. "They talk about Collingwood and four in a row. And it was a fantastic achievement, but honestly. They won two of those losing a preliminary final, Collingwood."

Far from surprisingly Clarkson's comments drew the ire of Magpies president Eddie McGuire. "It's laughable," McGuire said on Triple M last week. "It's been the record since 1930. Everyone has accepted it and everyone understands it."

Did Clarkson have a point? Do Hawthorn's three premierships in an 18-team equalised competition edge the Pies "Machines" haul around the time of the Great Depression? We've decided to look at how each of the six "three-peats" in VFL/AFL history stack up.

Carlton 1906-1908

It is more than a century ago since Carlton became the first club to win three flags in a row under the guidance of legendary coach and former Australian Test cricketer Jack Worrall. The club's record across their three premiership years was brilliant. They won the minor premiership in each of the seasons – including an astonishing 19-1 season in 1908 – and didn't lose a final either across the years of their streak. Carlton almost became the first side to win four premierships in succession too, losing the 1909 grand final to South Melbourne by two points. Working against Carlton's achievement when compared to those of their rivals is the fact that the fledgling VFL featured just eight teams for the first two years of their run, increased to 10 for the 1908 season with the addition of Richmond and University. It is a far cry from the 18-team national league.

Collingwood 1927-1930

So, to Clarkson's argument. Well he didn't totally have his facts right, but he wasn't that far off either. Clarkson said that Collingwood lost two preliminary finals over the duration of their streak. That was hard to do given the preliminary final wasn't introduced until 1931! What Clarkson essentially meant is that Collingwood twice lost finals on the way to a premiership. The VFL finals system was a straight four-team knockout in that era – except that the team that finished atop the ladder after the home and away rounds had a second chance. In the event the minor premiers didn't win the "final," they would have the opportunity to play off against the team that did – the so-called "minor premiers' right to challenge." Collingwood benefited from that rule in the third and fourth of their premiership years. Their 1929 triumph was perhaps most amazing. Having gone through the home and away season undefeated (still the only team in VFL/AFL history to do so) Collingwood were stunned by Richmond on semi-final day, thrashed by 62 points, before turning the tables on their opponents two weeks later to win the premiership.

Melbourne 1939-1941

Before the Melbourne dynasty of the lase 1950s and early 1960s there was their barnstorming outfit of the World War II era. Under the guidance of coaching great Frank "Checker" Hughes, Melbourne claimed top spot on the ladder in both 1939 and 1940, and finished second in 1941. They did drop their second semi-final to Richmond in 1940, but squeezed through a tight preliminary final against Essendon the following week to earn another chance, beating their conquerors of a fortnight earlier by 39 points on grand final day.

Melbourne 1955-1957

In essence, Melbourne were one game from blowing up any arguments about the greatest "streakers" of all-time. Had they not been upset by Collingwood in the 1958 grand final, Norm Smith's side would have won six straight premierships from 1955 to 1960. Alas for the Demons the Magpies reversed their semi-final defeat of two weeks earlier to protect their record set three decades earlier. Just like the two previous streaks, Melbourne won their premierships in a 12-team VFL. Melbourne claimed the minor premiership in all three of their premiership years, and lost just one final in that time – to Essendon in the 1957 second semi.

Brisbane Lions 2001-2003

It took nearly half a century for another club to win three premierships in a row. By that point the competition had gone national with 16 clubs, and Fitzroy had merged with the Brisbane Bears. Leigh Matthews' fearsome sides lost just one final over their three premiership years – narrowly defeated by Collingwood in the 2003 qualifying final. Working against the Lions when compared to the other "three-peaters" is that they never won the McClelland Trophy as minor premiers over their three flag seasons, and contentiously had salary cap concessions during the era. Still, at half-time in the 2004 grand final they led Port Adelaide by a point, and were closing in on Collingwood's record, only to be swamped by the rampant Power.

Hawthorn 2013-2015

A decade on from the third of Brisbane's premierships the competition had expanded to 18 teams and the salary cap and draft had been institutions for a generation. Still, Clarkson's sides managed to defy the system – not to mention the loss of superstar Lance Franklin at the end of 2013 to premiership rivals Sydney – to add three cups to the bulging trophy cabinet at Waverley. The Hawks too would have won four in a row had inaccuracy not cost them in the 2012 grand final against the Swans. Hawthorn won just one minor premiership over their premiership seasons, and lost to West Coast in the 2015 qualifying final before beating the Eagles in the grand final.