ALASTAIR Clarkson has dismissed the growing chorus of doubters lining up to write off Hawthorn, instead talking up his regenerating team's effort to finish top four and set up a shot at a historic fourth-straight premiership.
On the eve of finals, Clarkson sent a reminder that the "really serious stuff" was only just getting started and it matters little how September specialists Hawthorn got there.
"I'll refer back to 2012. We played some of our best football that year that we've ever played in the home and away (season) and got rolled in the Grand Final," Clarkson said on Tuesday.
"It's important you're playing your best footy at the right time of year and that's what we're going to be gearing ourselves up to try and do over the next four weeks."
The Hawks were the masters of close finishes this season, winning all six of their games decided by under 10 points, including a one-point shootout over Collingwood on Sunday to secure third spot on the ladder.
Those narrow escapes have raised fresh doubts about the Hawks' flag hopes, but Clarkson was bullish about his side's chances after notching 17 wins despite missing spearhead Jarryd Roughead all year and blooding seven debutants.
"We've sadly missed (Roughead's) presence in our front half, but we've been able to cope reasonably well in pretty trying circumstances," he said.
"We've won 17 games this year, which is one more than this time last year.
"So there's plenty of people lining up to write the Hawks off but we set ourselves a goal at the start of the year to win as many games as we could and get ourselves into the top four and we've been able to achieve that.
"Now we put that in the bank and get ourselves ready for the really serious stuff".
The Hawks have set up a mouthwatering showdown against arch-enemy Geelong next Friday night for the right to host a preliminary final.
The old foes have built one of the great modern rivalries since Hawthorn's shock '08 flag win, but Hawks skipper Luke Hodge played down the looming contest meaning anything extra because it's against the Cats.
"I think it's more about this time of year, especially this year when it's been as even as any," he said.
"We've had a bit of history with Geelong in the past but we've had the same with Sydney as well and a few other sides."
With youngsters like James Sicily, Ryan Burton and possibly Marc Pittonet set for their first September campaigns, Hodge said the Hawks' veterans had been passing on their knowledge in the build-up to finals.
"I remember our first major finals series back in 2008, we had Stuart Dew who gave us a lot of feedback, which definitely helped."
Pittonet's spot could come under pressure if, as expected, ruckman Ben McEvoy returns from a back/glute issue to face the Cats, with first-game hero Jack Fitzpatrick seemingly most likely to hold his position.
McEvoy was at the birth of his first child, Angus, last week and was unable to recover in time for the Pies clash.
Important defender Ben Stratton (pec) is all but certain to return, while injury-plagued tall Matt Spangher will play VFL development league finals in a bid to be ready if a spot opens up.
Spangher spent only a few minutes on the ground in Box Hill's reserves clash at the weekend to quality for development league finals, as the senior VFL side missed out on September action.
