The Hawks celebrate after a final-round win over Sydney at the SCG ensured they went into the finals with a top four spot. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

HAWTHORN 2018 record: 15 wins, 9 losses (5th).

THE INS
Darren Minchington (St Kilda), Jack Scrimshaw (Gold Coast), Tom Scully (GWS), Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide), Jacob Koschitzke (Murray Bushrangers), Matthew Walker (Murray Bushrangers), Damon Greaves (East Perth), Will Golds (Oakleigh Chargers), Tim Mohr (GWS)

THE OUTS
Ty Vickery (retired), Taylor Duryea (Western Bulldogs), Ryan Burton (Port Adelaide), Cyril Rioli (retired), Jonathan O’Rourke (delisted), Kurt Heatherley (delisted), Dallas Willsmore (delisted), Brendan Whitecross (delisted), Kieran Lovell (delisted), Will Langford (retired)

THE STRENGTHS
More generalised than specific for the Hawks, namely their capacity in 2018 to return to the sort of performance levels we’d become used to, despite still going through a transitional phase, minus Hodge, (Sam) Mitchell, Lewis, Gibson, Lake and now Rioli from the glory days. They were still good enough, however, to finish top four with 15 wins, produce a Brownlow medallist in Tom Mitchell and get genuine return from another big investment in Jaeger O’Meara. With the clutch of younger players steadily introduced over recent seasons gelling better with the veterans, Hawthorn is a solid unit again across the park, the Hawks in 2018 climbing from 14th to sixth for points scored, and improving even more markedly defensively, conceding fewer inside 50s than any rival, and their points conceded ranking going from 14th to third, an improvement of more than three goals per game. That’s the area in which two of those younger types, Blake Hardwick and James Sicily, are now leading the way. And while the Hawks will again be the oldest list in the competition next year, the younger parts of the machine are definitely pulling their weight more consistently, James Worpel, Harry Morrison, Daniel Howe and Teia Miles all making good progress in 2018.

THE WEAKNESSES
While Hawthorn was a lot more solid in 2018, it was seldom spectacular, having lost its once-renowned capacity to put opponents away with clinical efficiency up forward. And whilst a lot more reliable this year than last, the Hawks are still prone to the occasional bad day at the office, the examples two defeats at the hands of a raw Brisbane line-up which could win only five games all season. The Hawks are still chronically short of leg speed, hence the calculated gamble on former Giant Tom Scully, who could make a big difference if they can get him over his serious ankle injury. They perhaps still lack some real brilliance and x-factor as well, which Rioli’s premature retirement laid starkly bare, so there’s much also dependent upon Chad Wingard to play a feature role both close to goal and in midfield. And the forward set-up is a potential issue in 2019. While Jack Gunston and Luke Breust are still delivering, Jarryd Roughead and Paul Puopolo aren’t quite what they were, and the Hawks continue to shuffle the cards looking for another key forward, none of Jon Ceglar, Ryan Schoenmakers or Tim O’Brien seizing their opportunities to lock that spot down, the door perhaps now ajar for Mitch Lewis.

ONE TO WATCH
It says enough about how highly Hawthorn rates James Worpel that the 19-year-old next year will take over the famous No.5 guernsey worn by club greats Peter Crimmins and Sam Mitchell and recently vacated by the departed Ryan Burton. The strong-bodied midfielder was good enough to win the best first-year player award from only 11 senior appearances. He’d made only three until round 18, but his finish to the season was a huge plus for the Hawks, turning in a big game against Carlton, and playing important roles in wins over Essendon and Geelong. Will be an even more important part of the midfield mix in 2019 alongside Mitchell, O’Meara, Shiels and co.

UNDER THE PUMP
The Hawks will have eight players 30 or older on the books by the time next season starts, and there will pressure on several of them. Perhaps not so much, though, as upon Tim O’Brien. The big redhead turns only 25 come next March, but is still to cement a spot in the best 22 after five seasons for fewer than 50 games, and will be out of contract at the end of 2019. Though nominally a forward, O’Brien has spent time in defence, is training down there again so far this pre-season, and could be a long-term replacement for the ageing James Frawley. But there’s a more obvious hole right now at the other end of the field. Either way, O’Brien needs to take another step next season to be sure he stays on the list.

BEST 22
B: Blake Hardwick, James Frawley, Ben Stratton
HB: Grant Birchall, James Sicily, Shaun Burgoyne
C: Tom Scully, Jaeger O’Meara, Isaac Smith
HF: Chad Wingard, Jack Gunston, James Worpel
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
R: Ben McEvoy, Liam Shiels, Tom Mitchell
Inter: Harry Morrison, Jarman Impey, Daniel Howe, Teia Miles
Emerg: Ricky Henderson, Mitch Lewis, Conor Nash, Kaiden Brand

This is a pretty handy line-up, on paper at least, even with a few “ifs”, one the capacity of a Birchall to return to his best at the age of 31 and after effectively two years on the sidelines, plus how quickly Scully can recapture his top form and pace after a very nasty leg injury. Another plus is the amount of positional flexibility the Hawks have at their disposal, all four players on the bench capable of being used in a variety of roles. Decent depth, too, with strong competition from no shortage of contenders for the last few spots in the 22.