Best and fairest winner Jack Gunston was one of the few Hawks who lived up to expectations in 2020. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

HAWTHORN
2020 record: 5 wins, 12 losses (15th)

THE INS
Kyle Hartigan (Adelaide), Tom Phillips (Collingwood), Denver Grainger-Barras (Swan Districts), Seamus Mitchell (Bendigo Pioneers), Connor Downie (Eastern Ranges), Tyler Brockman (Subiaco), Jack Saunders (Norwood)

THE OUTS
Isaac Smith (Geelong), Ben Stratton (retired), Paul Puopolo (retired), James Frawley (retired – St Kilda), Conor Glass (retired), Ricky Henderson (retired), Darren Minchington (delisted), Will Golds (delisted), Jackson Ross (delisted), Harry Jones (delisted), Mathew Walker (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
The best thing Hawthorn has going for it right now is the fact it has one of the greatest coaches in VFL/AFL history at the helm. The club appears to be at its lowest ebb since Alastair Clarkson took over the reins 16 years ago, but on more than one occasion he has been able to extract more juice out of the orange than critics thought possible. He is probably the only active coach capable of achieving a quick turnaround with such a low-performing side, and we all know how much he hates occupying the bottom rungs of the ladder. Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, who finished 10th in the league for disposals after missing 2019 due to a broken leg, and triple premiership star Liam Shiels are a strong foundation to build off in the middle of the ground, while running machine Phillips is a really good pick-up and should slot straight into the side on a wing. A full pre-season/season out of speedster Jarman Impey, after he recovered from an ACL injury suffered in 2019, would also provide a big boost, as will a fully fit Daniel Howe, who missed most of last year due to foot surgery. Chad Wingard seemed to get closer to his best form, while sharpshooters Jack Gunston, who won Hawthorn’s best-and-fairest after finishing equal sixth in the AFL for goals last year (31), and Luke Breust proved once again in 2020 how valuable they are to this side. Making Gunston’s output even more impressive was the fact that the Hawks ranked only 12th for inside 50s last year, but he was in the top 10 in the AFL for marks inside 50. Youngsters Will Day, Jack Scrimshaw, Harry Morrison, Changkuoth Jiath, James Cousins and Oliver Hanrahan are progressing pretty well, too, so that is something that will enthuse the Hawthorn faithful. Dominant wins over top-four sides Richmond and Brisbane early last season were very impressive, but ultimately proved to be a mirage.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

THE WEAKNESSES
It’s taken a very long time to happen, but it looks as though the Hawks’ aura of fear and respect has finally evaporated. After starting last season 3-1, Clarkson looked like he had reinvented the playing list yet again and turned them into a finals threat after missing the top eight the previous year. But it quickly became apparent that this notion was way off the mark, because the floor completely fell out from the bottom of the Hawks as they proceeded to lose 11 of their last 13 games. GWS, Collingwood and Melbourne took it upon themselves to burst Hawthorn’s bubble with three big wins against them in as many weeks and from there, there was little to cheer about, Hawthorn finishing in its lowest position on the ladder in Clarkson’s reign. In 2019, despite missing the finals, they still managed to beat top-eight sides West Coast, Geelong, Collingwood and grand finalist GWS twice. You still couldn’t underestimate them. But now, that last bit of fairy dust from their previous golden period seems to have finally disappeared, the rest of the competition recognising that this Hawthorn team was no longer the side it used to be, and treating it accordingly. Compounding things for the Hawks is that arguably their best player, James Sicily, will miss most of 2021 due to an ACL injury, and while Jonathon Patton didn’t set the world on fire in his first year at the club, the uncertainty surrounding his future as a result of his “sexting” scandal, at least for the time being, robs the Hawks of another tall option in attack. And the club experienced further instability earlier this week when long-time official and most recent football manager, Graham Wright departed to take up a role as Collingwood director of football after 14 years with the Hawks. Hawthorn might have a “big name” midfield, but in reality the likes of Mitchell, Shiels, Jaeger O’Meara, James Worpel and Tom Scully really struggled to come together and have a meaningful impact last year. On differentials, Hawthorn ranked last for disposals, 16th for clearances and 14th for marks, which goes a long way to explaining why they were so bad – quite simply, its midfield was monstered. The Hawks struggled to provide regular quality service to their forwards, finishing with the No.11 attack, and their lack of potency also played a role in their team’s defence being ranked 16th. It’s no wonder the Hawks went after Hartigan and also drafted defender Grainger-Barras with their first pick. Hawthorn’s ruck situation isn’t ideal, either. Jonathon Ceglar was the top Hawk for hit-outs last year, but came in at a lowly 16th in the league. This writer believes Ben McEvoy is best served assisting Ceglar as a ruckman who drifts forward, considering he is also one of the best shots for goal in the competition (88.33 at 72 per cent career accuracy), but he spent most of last year in defence and will probably do so as well in 2021, especially with no Sicily. With Gunston, Breust and Shaun Burgoyne all featuring prominently in the forward half still, there’s not a lot coming through in that part of the ground, and Hawthorn will be desperately hoping that Mitchell Lewis and Tim O’Brien accept the challenge and go to the next level. With Isaac Smith, Stratton, Puopolo, Frawley and Henderson all departing, a massive void in experience has been left in the playing group as well.

ONE TO WATCH
A rare shining light for the Hawks last year was young defender Day. Taken at pick No.13 in the 2019 draft, he showed exactly why he was a first-round selection, having an instant impact for his side in what was a tough season. The 19-year-old made his debut in round six, and hardly missed a beat, averaging 15.6 disposals (ninth at the club), and earning a Rising Star nomination in round 16 after recording career-highs in disposals (21) and rebound-50s (six) against St Kilda.

UNDER THE PUMP
Tellingly, Day had a better disposal average than highly-regarded teammate Scully, who could only manage 13.6 a game. Last season, the former Giant was a shadow of the hard-running player who dominated for GWS in 2016 and 2017. Whether or not he’s still struggling to get fully comfortable playing after badly breaking his leg in 2018, his lack of influence on matches was quite alarming, and if he fails to recapture his best form in 2021, his spot in the side might quickly be jeopardised.

BEST 22
B: Blake Hardwick, Kyle Hartigan, Will Day
HB: Jarman Impey, Ben McEvoy, Sam Frost
C: Liam Shiels, Tom Mitchell, Tom Phillips
HF: Chad Wingard, Tim O’Brien, Shaun Burgoyne
F: Jack Gunston, Mitchell Lewis, Luke Breust
R: Jonathon Ceglar, Jaeger O’Meara, James Worpel
Inter: Tom Scully, Jack Scrimshaw, Harry Morrison, Daniel Howe
Emerg: Changkuoth Jiath, James Cousins, Finn Maginness, Oliver Hanrahan

Hartigan and Phillips slot straight into a team desperate for reinforcements. Sicily would be a walk-up start into the first 18, but because he will most likely miss the majority of 2021, he has been left out. Same goes for Patton, whose immediate future is clouded. Burgoyne needs another 13 games to reach the magical 400 milestone, and it’s hard to think of a more deserving player if he were to achieve that feat.