When Alastair Clarkson took over as Hawthorn coach at the end of 2004, it was all about building a team to have sustained success in September.
Fast forward nine years and that has been achieved with two Premierships in six finals series appearances.
In 2005 and 2006, it was all about rebuilding the list and introducing the game plan and style he wanted the players to adopt and as is often the case with most clubs in that situation, there were plenty of examples of short-term pain for long-term gain.
They were well beaten in several matches in those two seasons, although they finished 2006 in pretty good shape as they had got plenty of games into their three top-ten picks of 2004.
Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin and Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge and Campbell Brown were permanent fixtures and in Hodge’s case a bona fide star.
They made the finals in 2007 and won a final and in 2008, and they were dominant in the home and away season with Geelong, losing just four games as the competition’s best current rivalry hit full swing.
By the time they got to the Grand Final that year against the Cats, they had peaked at the right time and shocked their opponents to win a flag that Alastair Clarkson even admitted at the time was ahead of schedule.
In that premiership year Roughead, Franklin and Lewis were 100-game stars, and Franklin was a superstar having kicked a century of goals. Grant Birchall, who they secured as a first round selection in the 2005 draft had established himself as a running defender as well.
By this stage, Hawthorn’s recruiting had identified the importance of picking up experienced players from other clubs for specific needs like former St Kilda and Port Adelaide player, Brent Guerra.
This policy has stood the Hawks in wonderful stead since then, although 2009 was a disappointing year cruelled by injury. They missed the eight and had a horrible season.
Pressure started to mount on Clarkson, when they had one victory from the first seven matches in 2010 after they gave up three draft picks for silky skilled Port Adelaide midfielder Shaun Burgoyne.
He had a delayed start due to a nagging knee injury, but it has proven to be an inspired decision as his brilliance has set up many victories, especially in big games.
Josh Gibson has been another superb pickup from North Melbourne and another Roo, David Hale, joined the fray in 2011 and has become extremely valuable as a forward and ruckman.
They also nabbed some bargain basement picks in the draft with reliable defender in Ben Stratton, while Isaac Smith, after starring in the VFL with North Ballarat, has given them some badly needed outside run to accommodate the inside grunt of Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell.
In the same draft of 2010, Paul Puopolo was chosen at pick 66 as a mature-age recruit and became a permanent fixture straight away, while Luke Breust was a NSW scholarship holder as a rookie and very quickly established himself as a devastating goalsneak.
The Hawks played finals in 2010 after that slow start, narrowly lost the 2011 preliminary Final and then went down to Sydney after being favourites in the Grand Final last year.
As expected they were shattered and retribution to avenge that disappointment began straight away for Hawthorn this year.
They knew there was one area where they had a major weakness and that was in defence.
They needed a key defender and the man they identified was Brian Lake from the Western Bulldogs and both sides have benefitted from the trade with the Dogs getting two picks in Nathan Hrovat and Koby Stevens, who have settled in well at the Whitten Oval.
Lake has helped deliver the Hawks that Premiership that they and he coveted and of course there was the bonus of winning the Norm Smith Medal.
Bradley Hill with his speed has also stepped up in September after being a first-round pick in 2011 and then there’s the third tall floating forward in Jack Gunston.
He wasn’t far away from the Norm Smith with a four-goal haul after being their only clear winner with four also in the Preliminary Final triumph over Geelong.
With the two new teams, there’s obviously not as much good young talent around, so clubs have to be smarter with recruiting and with the introduction of free agency, taking players from other clubs to fill a need or a gap is in vogue again.
There are always rumours now as the free agency and trading periods are about to get underway about where players may end up and after Hawthorn’s success, expect plenty of movement at the 18 AFL stations this year.
Jason
Guest
This is a very accurate and balanced look at the Victorian outlook. The Hawks have now won flags in 6 successive decades so its probably not surprising that they are the club that have shot up over the last 50 years. Back in the 60's and 70's the Hawks would have likely been in Tier IV. Likewise the Dees would have been in Tier II probably where Hawthorn now sit.
Jason
Guest
Hawthorn MCG crowds for home and away games: 58,123 Hawthorn MCG crowds including finals: 64,025 Collingwood MCG crowds for home and away games: 65,281 Collingwood MCG crowds including finals: 64,377 Richmond MCG crowds for home and away games: 61,343 Richmond MCG crowds including finals: 63,725 Melbourne MCG crowds for home and away games: 28,442 Personally I think its more fair to look at home and away games only. The Hawks have fantastic crowds, but Richmond and Collingwood have enormous crowds which is a credit to their legions of fans. Melbourne is the significant outlier in this group, even when they were on the up=up in the mid 2000's their average MCG crowd was around the 40,000 mark. That said they have an amazing history and enormous support amongst the MCC (20% or so). The three clubs in trouble are St Kilda, North and the W Bulldogs (though the Dogs pretty much have the Western Suburbs of Melbourne to themselves)
Jason
Guest
I'm as big a supporter of Hawthorn as much as the next Hawks member but there is no way Hawthorn is bigger than Carlton, Essendon and Richmond in terms of overall fan support. We're clearly the 5th biggest club in Victoria in support (its really a Big Five these days) but we're growing like a bullet. I think we can take heart from the fact that we're clearly the biggest club outside the traditional Big Four. As an aside Richmond's support is remarkable. If Carlton or Essendon had the 35 years that Richmond have had I have no doubt we would have dislodged one of those clubs and would currently sit amongst the biggest 4 Victorian clubs. I firmly believe if Richmond have any sort of success in the next 5 or so years they'll shoot beyond Essendon and Carlton and sit beside Collingwood as the biggest club in Victoria.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Richmond rank third behind the Pies and Hawks for attendances this season. For a club that has been in the wasteland for so long, it's quite remarkable. I'm sure a lot of younger supporters of other clubs are puzzled too. But, anyway, Hawthorn are worthy premiers for 2013.
brian
Guest
You xant take one seadon as a barometer. My rankings consider teams including when struggling. Hawks and Richmond are going well. Essendon have a war cry. Carlton are just plodding but are still bigger. If hawks were bottom their crowds would match st kilda but still be a more popular club. I love Hawthorn but we just dont habe as many supporters as those big 3 thats all. In 1996 we almost folded so we have overtaken about 4 clubs since. Thats massive on its own
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Collingwood is on top in this area, and has been for ages. Carlton, Essendon,and Hawthorn are next. Geelong is getting up there too, obviously. Richmond has shown by one season's resurgence, that they can do the MCG justice as well. Many younger supporters of other clubs might be puzzled by this, given their almost hopeless plight over the past three decades. I wonder what might happen if they get their act together for a few consecutive seasons. That's a big 'if' I admit.
Franko
Guest
I stand corrected AR, the article to which I posted a link is therefore very mis-leading. Good on North Melbourne and their no pokies stance, I say. I agree with you that Hawthorn should be regarded as one of the big 4 in Melbourne, but at whose expense? They certainly haven't done it on the back of public holiday games, Dream Time etc. - well played.
sheek
Roar Guru
I'm curious mastermind, Now how do you get a premiership "stolen" from you in broad daylight? In front of 100,000 screaming fans? And in front of millions more watching live on TV? What you probably mean, most obviously, is that Hawthorn didn't take Sydney seriously enough (just like Geelong to Hawthon in 2008) in which case they thoroughly deserved to lose.
Australian Rules
Guest
Franko, I think that's a bit unfair to Hawthorn. Carlton - 260 machines Collingwood - 191 Essendon - 190 Geelong - 182 Western Bulldogs - 95 Melbourne - 92 St Kilda - 83 Hawthorn - 75 Richmond - 70 The Hawks' off-field performance has mostly to do with their sponsorship deals (the Tas Govt); its wider foray into a new market (again, Tas) and property investments.
Franko
Guest
As I understand it, Hawthorn's growth has been a combination of on-field performance and pokies. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/27/afl-pokies-football Of course Freo are backed by big mining, such is the way of the world I guess.
Australian Rules
Guest
Brian, your model reflects the "traditional" standings of the Victorian clubs...but it's outdated I'm afraid. I can assure you, these days Hawthorn is the second biggest club in Victoria. Not just in terms of Members, but financially, the Hawks are an absolute powerhouse. Here's an interesting fact... In 2013, Hawthorn had the biggest average crowds at the MCG (yes, bigger than Collingwood), but when you factor in the Launceston crowds, their overall average comes right down.
Franko
Guest
Richmond had the 3rd highest membership this year behind Collingwood and Hawthorn. I know, I'm amazed a team so starved of success can attract 60,000 members but credit to them, it's 10,000 more than Carlton.
Bruiser
Guest
How can you manage to know the number of 'supporters'? If anything is an indication of how big a club is, it should be members. Hawthorn has the second most amount of memberships in the AFL, therein your arguments premise is void.
Brian
Guest
I think your being a bit kind to Richmond. In terms of size in Melbourne I would say there is Tier I Powerhouses - Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon Tier II Mid-Range - Richmond, Hawthorn, Geelong Tier III Just Viable - St Kilda, Melbourne Tier IV Merger material - Western, North Melbourne No surprise than when you count premierships the tiers almost match. The odd one out is Melbourne, 12 flags but not many supporters to show for it.
Franko
Guest
They have been pretty strong since 2007/08 now, that is heading in to 6-7 years with no real sign of slowing down, You have to wonder if, given Hawthorns success' over the past 20-30 years to now, are they able to dislodge one of the traditional big 4 from their perch. They grabbed plenty of suporters in the late 80's, and will be grabbing plenty more today. Interesting times ahead.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Now that the Hawks have won back that premiership many believe was stolen from them last year, the next few years will be about trying to remain at the top for as long as possible. The Hawks suffered the dreaded premiership hangover in 2009 and they will be determined not to let it happen in 2014. However, it will be interesting to see how they handle things without Buddy Franklin (barring a miracle) from next year onwards.
David
Guest
Another trade that will play a lot of games in the future and is a potential star is Jed Anderson traded from GWS. He has a big future in the mid field.
mike
Guest
Bradley Hill was pick 33, not first round as mentioned.