2016 AFL preview: Hawthorn’s best 22

What is there to be said about Hawthorn that hasn’t already been said?

Year after year, the Hawks are the measuring stick for every other team in the AFL and year after year, that stick gets longer and longer.

Coming off their third consecutive premiership, it is hard to criticise the Hawks on anything they do.

One could say that Hawthorn had moments where they looked vulnerable during the home-and-away season last year, as they finished third with six losses. Listen to that again – the Hawks finished third and only lost six games but people were questioning whether the dynasty was over.

After the Hawks alternated wins and losses for the season’s first eight games, they reeled off eight straight wins to silence some doubters. After a qualifying final loss to the West Coast Eagles, though, the doubters were out again in full force, proclaiming the Hawks’ era of dominance was over.

When many thought that the rest of the AFL had finally caught up to Hawthorn and legitimate challengers to their thorn arose, the Hawks simply came out and won their last three finals games by a combined 147 points on their way to another championship.

Hawthorn’s 2015, despite their excellence, was still a drama-filled campaign. Whether it was coach Alastair Clarkson shoving a fan on the way back to his hotel after an Anzac Day loss to Port Adelaide, Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis being labeled ‘unsociable’ footballers or Hodge being caught drink driving, the Hawks were in the news one way or another throughout the year.

All the off-field drama aside and the Hawks are still the AFL’s best team, despite losing some talented players over the off-season. With Matthew Suckling leaving to the Western Bulldogs and David Hale and Brian Lake both retiring, some spots have opened up in Hawthorn’s 22 but they still have enough depth and talent to field almost two teams.

Suckling and Lake are big losses in the back-line but when you take a look at their potential back six – Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Taylor Duryea, Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson and Grant Birchall – you wonder how Suckling and Lake even got a game in 2015. That is by no means a knock on Suckling or Lake; it is simply a hat-tip to how strong this Hawthorn side is.

In the ruck, Hale leaves but is replaced by the duo of Ben McEvoy and Jonathon Ceglar, which isn’t a downgrade by any stretch of the imagination. Both McEvoy and Ceglar can alternate between playing forward and ruck but with the AFL moving back to four interchange spots, the ruck duo will be pretty hard to handle this season.

All of this and the names of Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli haven’t even been mentioned. AFL, good luck stopping these Hawks once again in 2016.

Best 22
B: Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Taylor Duryea
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall
C: Brad Hill, Sam Mitchell, Issac Smith
HF: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Liam Shiels
F: Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Paul Puopolo
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge
INT: Ryan Schoenmakers, Jonathon Ceglar, Billy Hartung, Jonathon O’Rourke

MVP: Luke Hodge
Throw out all of the unsociable crap that surrounded Hodge in 2015. He isn’t unsociable nor a dirty player – he is simply the heart and soul of the Hawks and he will be for the foreseeable future.

In 2015, Hodge’s on-field production was as good as ever, as he finished second in the AFL in kicks per game with 17.4. He also averaged 26.8 disposals, 9.3 handballs, 6.2 marks and 4.4 tackles per game in 2015, proving he is much more than just a courageous captain. Hodge is one of the league’s best leaders, as he leads in many different ways, whether it is vocally or by his actions. No matter what it is, you know Hodge’s teammates will notice him and respond.

Future Star: Billy Hartung
A questionable omission from the 2015 grand final winning squad, Hartung is still one of the Hawks’ brightest young studs. His running ability is at an elite level, as he ranked second in the AFL among rising stars in bounces last season and he also won the Hawks three-kilometre time trial this off-season.

Hartung averaged 15.8 disposals per game last season and he seemed to establish a spot along Hawthorn’s half back line. With the departure of Suckling, Hartung will see an improved role in 2016 and he has all the talent to take it and run with it.

Make or Break: Jonathan O’Rourke
The second overall draft pick in the 2012 national draft, O’Rourke has played for two AFL clubs already and has yet to establish himself at either Greater Western Sydney or Hawthorn. O’Rourke has all the talent in the world to become an elite level midfielder, as there is a reason he was a pick two.

Recruited as an inside midfielder with a knack for the contested ball, O’Rourke only managed to play in two games for the Hawks last season and failed to make a major impact in either of them. O’Rourke earns a spot in the Hawks’ best 22 on talent alone, but with Will Langford right on his tail he needs to have a much more consistent 2016 season.