After crashing out of last September in straight sets, and trading away two club legends during the off-season, one wonders how or whether the Hawks will bounce back in 2017.
The Hawks entered the 2016 season with the chance to become just the second club after Collingwood in 1927-30 to achieve the feat of winning four consecutive premierships.
But after finishing third at the end of the regular season, the Hawks failed to win any of their finals matches, losing to the Geelong Cats in the qualifying final and then to the Western Bulldogs in the semi-final.
To this day, many Hawks fans will be pondering what certainly could have been had Isaac Smith landed his post-siren set shot at goal against the Cats in the qualifying final.
Had he nailed the shot, then the Hawks would have had the week off and then faced the Sydney Swans (to whom the Cats lost against in the preliminary final) in the grand final qualifier at the MCG.
Instead, the Hawks were forced into sudden death where they came up against the Western Bulldogs, a side they hadn’t lost to since Round 3, 2010.
Many expected them to make light work of Luke Beveridge’s men, who had just come off beating the West Coast Eagles by 47 points in Perth and hadn’t won consecutive finals matches in 55 years.
They dominated in the first half but led by just one point at half-time, after which the Bulldogs ran riot and eventually emerged 23-point victors.
It was the Hawks’ worst performance in September since 2010, when they lost to Fremantle by 30 points in an elimination final at Domain Stadium.
As if having their premiership reign and bid for a fourth consecutive premiership ended in swift fashion wasn’t enough, two major bombshells then dropped in the trade period that followed.
It was reported that the West Coast Eagles were in discussions with Sam Mitchell about potentially finishing his career in the west and launching a coaching career upon his playing retirement.
After days of speculation, Mitchell was traded west; he was then followed out the door by fellow premiership players Jordan Lewis and Bradley Hill, both of whom were traded to Melbourne and Fremantle respectively.
This meant that the Hawks had offloaded over 650 games’ worth of experience all in the one hit.
Into the club came Tom Mitchell, who had just featured for the Sydney Swans in their grand final loss to the Western Bulldogs, and the injury-prone Jaeger O’Meara, who hasn’t played a match since Round 23, 2014.
The Hawks also landed the services of Richmond forward Tyrone Vickery during the trade period, and will finally get Jarryd Roughead back this season after he sat out the entire 2016 season battling melanoma.
Roughead has also become the Hawks’ newest captain, replacing Luke Hodge, who served in the role for six seasons, in each of which the Hawks finished no lower than third on the ladder.
The upcoming season will provide the club with some burning questions ahead of their opening round clash against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday, 25 March.
The biggest is how they will cope without their two biggest stars in Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, both of whom were instrumental as the club rebuilt their playing list in the noughties.
Another is how their recruits in Tom Mitchell, Tyrone Vickery and, most importantly, Jaeger O’Meara, will fit into the side.
And most intriguingly, it will remain to be seen whether the Hawks can keep their place at the upper echelon of the ladder, especially with the Western Bulldogs and GWS Giants on the rise.
Another huge point of interest is that the Hawks will come up against a Bombers side that will be welcoming up to ten of its banned players back after more than eighteen months on the sidelines.
While the Hawks should start favourites against the Bombers, a side they have dominated for the most part of the last twelve years, they will be aware that John Worsfold’s men will be boosted significantly by the return of those said players from their season-long WADA suspensions.
And so, after the events of the past six months, in which their bid for a four-peat came crashing to a massive halt, can the Hawks bounce back in 2017 with a refreshed playing list, or has their time at the top come to an end?
We wait to see.
Birdman
Guest
I like them for top 6 inn 2017 but I can't say I liked what I saw against North last weekend even if it was just a pre-season game. Ruck and half back are problematic IMHO
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Peppsy you're making that up, surely. I was there at the game and it looked to me like we had control of the play more than the Hawks throughout the first half (and second-half), but the Hawks punished us better when they had the chance. Watching on, I always felt confident that it was just a matter of the Doggies finding their composure and then - because they were controlling most of the play - they would run over the top. Which is exactly what happened.
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Could somebody start a weekly article called "The anon files" or something, and just let us all laugh at how ridiculous it is?
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Saying the Bulldogs dominated the first half but lacked front end composure is just wrong, and a quick check of the scores says Hawthorn were dominating, and then Bulldogs kicked 3.5 to hawthorn 0.1 in the last 10min. Last time I checked 10min of domination in half does not mean they dominated the half.
SonOfLordy
Guest
I don't think the Hawks would have beaten Sydney if they made the preliminary final. Not without umpire help any way. Hawks finally lost a close match. I think they won 6 or 7 matches by a goal or less in 2016. People kept talking about the Hawks "knowing" how to win. My thought was, if they "know" how to win, why wait until the dying seconds to attempt the miracle win. Why not start trying to win 10 minutes out from full time because instead of being a 50% chance of winning you make yourself a 95% chance of winning. No, close wins are just luck for the most part and their luck ran out in the final. Hawthorn were in reality a 12 or 13 win team in 2016. Clarkson arrogantly claimed he "didn't give a stuff" about contested ball last season. Hawthorn were historically bad at winning the contested ball. The Hawks 2016 side was one of the softest teams to ever play in the AFL. Clarkson bet the house on being soft, those close miracle wins masked the warning signs throughout the season, and it all blew up in his face in the finals. Hence the complete rethink in strategy for 2017, disposing of two old and soft midfielders in the off season and specifically targeting a young hard ball winner like Tom Mitchell. Clarkson (and the pundits) got it completely wrong about Hawthorn in 2016.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
This article says the Hawks dominated the first half against the Bulldogs and yet only led by 1 point at half time, but my reading of the game was the opposite. It seemed to me that the Bulldogs dominated most of the play but lacked composure in the front half (a reflection of our finals inexperience compared to the Hawks). A quick check of scores indicates my gut is right - Bulldogs had 4 more scoring shots to half time. I think the Hawks off-season trading was excellent and very forward-looking. In many ways, it set a ruthless 'club-first' benchmark, but did it with a degree of class, in respect to showing club stalwarts respect and making their departures optional. I'm not sure if Tom Mitchell will be a star, but he'll definitely be giving the Hawks more value than Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis would have been in a couple of years time, so re-generation now is smart. O'Meara is going to be a star. It's unfortunate for Gold Coast that they didn't receive an adequate trade for such a gun, and unfortunate for the rest of us that the Hawks were yet again the beneficiary of a one sided-deal (the AFL even extending the cut-off time to let it through). I would have preferred to see Jaegar stay at Gold Coast, simply for the good of the competition and to enhance their progress. The Hawks are on the right path to regenerate and will likely tread water this season around 7th to 10th, but they will need to give Hodge, Gibson and possibly Burgoyne a gentle shove at the end of the season, and will need to recruit sharply again at the end of this year (which will be hard, considering they've traded their 1st and 2nd round picks and only come in late in 2nd round, assuming GWS finish high). Otherwise, I don't think there is not enough depth of talent on their list to be serious competitors in the next few years.
Brian
Guest
As soon as Roughie became ill it was always improbable. However it would have been nice for Smith to kick it and have a 6th straight Prelim Final.
andyl12
Guest
As much as I'd like to think we came within a kick of a flag, in reality our season was gone after the R20 loss to Melbourne. That started a run of 4 losses in 6 games, with neither of the two wins being convincing. I think some at the club knew as the season went on that the 2013-2015 side couldn't win another flag, hence they started preparing for some post-season personnel changes that went beyond any public expectations.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
very true, we could go up or the lower half of the 8,we shall see.
dave
Guest
Watched Sam Mitchell play the practice match yesterday and wow.I still hate the guy(even more now he plays for that other West Oz team)but I have to respect him.I don't think his age is going to affect him too much because his number one weapon is his brain. I can fully understand Hawks reasoning on the trade but they may have just created a legitimate flag contender in WC. Bloody Hawks still finding ways to torment us Freo fans.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Guru
The young brigade of talent they recruited in the offseason should hold them in good stead. Whether it is enough to put them back on top of the league is another question.
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Geelong may have beaten Bulldogs and GWS, so it wasn't unlikely that if Smith had got the goal it would have been a Hawthorn Geelong GF.
saywhatayoyo
Roar Rookie
In Clarko confidimus (In Clarko we trust). Personally I think Issie missing that shot was irrelevant in the bigger picture, although it didn't feel like that when I was leaving the ground. We could have beaten the Swans and Crows but I reckon both Dogs and GWS had our measure by a long shot. We will be in amongst it in this September for sure. Today's game will be interesting to see who puts their hand up for a seniors birth but i suspect will will take a bath in the ruck, "Malis moribus uero".
Peppsy
Roar Guru
There really isn't much you can say for certain about Hawthorn is there? I mean they lost S Mitchell, who's a star, but last year after every loss I heard "if you stop Sam Mitchell, you stop Hawthorn", so losing him may force the team to spread the load more, ala Buddy's trade to Sydney. Could be a win or a loss. They lost Lewis, but it didnt seem that he was doing as much inside work as was needed in 2016, and he may or may not be entirely replaced and then some by either T Mitchell or Omeara. They lost hill, but that give Hartung a chance to step up. Whether he does or not is another thing. T Mitchell was great in 2016, but he'll probably be 1 or 2 in the midfield this year, and we don't know how he'll deal with that. Omeara was rising star, but he may get injured again, or he may never return to that level. Theoretically Vickery can replace Hale, but theory and practise are two different things. Roughead being back is great, but after a year off, will he be as good as he was before? We all know Clarkson has something planned, but will it work? Gah it's so frustrating being uncertain.