With the Giants looking like they need at least one more season before coming into finals contention, we move onto last year’s premiers – who once again will be the team to beat.
Last season
Win a Premiership in 2013 and lose arguably your most damaging player – the jury was out on Hawthorn in 2014. What they produced next was simply outstanding.
Other than going back to back, they well and truly shook their Geelong hoodoo, and a number of players have progressed nicely.
The usual suspects in Jarryd Roughead, Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge were outstanding with Jordan Lewis, Jack Gunston, and Luke Breust taking their games to another level.
Isaac Smith was getting tagged off a wing and the most impressive aspect was how players came into the team and played a role, often exceeding expectations.
This season
Bringing in James Frawley was another masterstroke, strengthening the backline and also giving Alastair Clarkson a swingman he can use. At times last season the defence was an area of concern playing undersized.
James Frawley is an immediate fix that will also give Josh Gibson extra freedom to go third man up in contests. Jono O’Rourke is a former number two draft pick who will relish the leadership around him and add depth to an already deep list.
All signs suggest the Hawks will be formidable in 2015 and expect them to be playing off in the grand final once again.
Who to look out for
Matt Suckling has long been famed for his ability to execute by foot. He showed glimpses of his ability last season but his confidence looked low at times which could be attributed to his return from injury or the need to provide extra defensive support to the depleted stocks.
This season, with Frawley added, expect Gibson to provide a chop out then utilise Suckling more to rebound from defensive 50. Has the ability to be an 80-metre player and will hopefully display his talent more consistently this season.
Needs a big year
Ben McEvoy was very lucky to play in a premiership last season. Injuries cruelled his consistency and Jonathan Ceglar looked right at home, if not more exciting, when given the chance. Coming over from St Kilda he was set to be the solid ruckman the Hawks had longed for since the Spider Everitt and Paul Salmon days.
The Hawks forward line structure, although with multiple goal kicking options, relies on David Hale providing a contest and dragging a tall defender away from Jack Gunston. If Dave Hale is required to cover the ruck from McEvoy extra pressure goes onto Gunston.
If he gets his body right expect him to gain confidence and consistency.
Best 22
FB: Gibson, Lake, Stratton
HB: Suckling, Frawley, Birchall
C: Smith, Hodge, Hill
HF: Puopolo, Hale, Rioli
FF: Breust, Roughead, Gunston
R: McEvoy, Lewis, Mitchell
I: Burgoyne, Shiels, Langford, Duryea
PartTimeZombie
Guest
Wouldn't Langford be a bit unlucky to not be starting? He was very, very good in the Grand Final. I'm not sure who to leave out for him though, which is a nice problem to have.
Brian
Guest
That best 22 is the GF side with Frawley in for Spangher. There is still a question of pace being reliant on Hill & Smith so it will be interesting if Jed Anderson can develop. The forward line depends on Roughead and the backline the Achilles heal actually looks alright. I wouldn't call Frawley a swingman looks more a defender to me. Port are the biggest threat, Freo & Sydney won't be far either. Of the rest you would think GC could rise again. Looks like top 2 will be required for a preliminary at the MCG.
AB
Guest
I agree Andy that Port looks like the biggest threat. Freo keeps promising to get it together, but hasn't quite, yet. I wouldn't be quite so quick to write off Sydney, though - they are a very good side. That said, I finally watched a replay of the Grand Final last week, and frankly Sydney were lucky that the margin was only 63 points. The Hawks completely owned them and could've won by 80 or 90. I'm not a gambler but I'd just about put money on the top four in 2015 being (in no particular order) Hawthorn, Port, Freo, Sydney.
andyl12
Guest
I think Port are our biggest threat. They almost got us in the prelim and they're a club on the rise. After 2013 people might've said they'd flown under the radar but 2014 shows they win consistently (with the occasional form slump). I'm watching out for them. Fremantle are also a possibility, but hard to really back them. North are still another year away, Geelong are on the way down (unless a high number of their youngsters turn into A-grade players quickly) and Sydney are still shattered. Many will still be talking Sydney up but if you look at the sides who've been smashed in GF's the last 15 years they have all fallen down the ladder straight away. I would even suggest that Sydney's much-vaunted club culture has taken an irreversible hit.
AB
Guest
Hawks will be very strong again in 2015. As a Hawks fan I'm a bit biased, but I reckon they'd be the first team that most neutral supporters would pencil in to the top four for next year. On paper they look even stronger than in 2014, with the pickup of Frawley addressing their biggest vulnerability - lack of size in defence. Lewis, Roughead and Rioli are at the peak of their powers and Bruest, Gunston, Hill and Langford should all be better players next year. Whether they can win the flag next year depends very much on the form of their older stars - Mitchell, Hodge, Burgoyne and to some extent Lake. If the old crew have one more good year in them - and barring injuries, they all look like they do - the Hawks will give the hat-trick a very big shake. The fact that they have the best coach in the league won't hurt either.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
McEvoy might have been lucky to make the grand final, but he was strong in the game and ultimately the right choice.