For the Magpies, that was also going to be harder than for most of the recent premiers given the age of the side that won the 2010 flag. They are young.
But veteran midfielder Ben Johnson said after Saturday's 75-point win over Port Adelaide the motivation for each game, for every player, was simple.
"We want to win another premiership. After the feeling we got last year, there's nothing better and we won't accept anything less," he said.
"It's not hard at all to maintain. As I get older I'm enjoying my footy more, and all you want is success."
The Pies' theme for the 2011 season was to remain the "hunters" and not become the "hunted".
On Saturday against Port Adelaide - a team who finished 10th last season and is not considered to be top eight material in 2011 by most - the Magpies realised exactly what could happen when that mantra slips.
Johnson summed it up best after the game. He said the Pies "got lazy"; an uncharacteristic trait of the intense team that has become famous for its frontal pressure.
After starting strongly, they let a 58-point lead slip to just 16 in the third quarter when the Power piled on five consecutive goals.
Suddenly, they returned to the script and ran out 75-point winners after a six-goal-to-one final quarter.
Despite the lapse, which Johnson admitted was unlike them, there were instances where the passion that won them the 2010 flag shone through.
Luke Ball had eight tackles in the first quarter alone. A total of 13 for the game.
The team tackle count was 84 to 68, despite the fact the Pies had the ball 67 more times.
In the third quarter, Alan Toovey ran down Cameron Hitchcock in the centre square like a man possessed. Soon after, Simon Buckley chased down David Rodan, who got a messy kick off to Hitchcock, who was again flattened in the Power's attacking arc - this time by Heath Shaw.
In the fourth term, when the game was dead and buried, Dale Thomas ran harder than his opponent and won the ball, despite the lethargy he must have felt.
There were ups and downs for the Pies. When they went to sleep at the stoppages in the third quarter, it was emphasised just how important it is to remain hungry for four.
Chris Tarrant had a quiet game, Simon Buckley showed promise across halfback and Andrew Krakouer had moments of brilliance but ran out of legs. They'll know now games will have to be earned given Mick Malthouse's goal to get 30 players on an even keel of match exposure.
Captain Nick Maxwell knew as early as October last year that keeping his young teammates hungry would be a challenge.
So much, in fact, he commissioned the 12 senior players over the age of 24 to dinner on the eve of the Pies' pre-season.
He told them they had to improve, and find that extra "one per cent" that would enable the team to lift as an entity and defend its flag.
The youngsters, he said, would take care of themselves. Another summer spent in the gym, more time trials and training camps would automatically boost their ability.
His message was well received, indicated in the Pies' comprehensive taking of the NAB Cup two weeks before the start of the season, and a week before the season launch where Malthouse again emphasised the importance of staying behind the rifle instead of in front of the barrel.
Now, the Pies will walk away from Saturday with four points knowing just how important that pre-season theme actually is.
