Draw assessment
Challenging. The Hawks play Geelong, Collingwood, West Coast and the Sydney Swans twice, and new boys Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney only once. They've also got seven six-day breaks, which is on the high side. But there are only three interstate trips (not counting home games in Launceston) to worry about.
Pivotal match
Look no further than the round one preliminary final re-match with Collingwood, which Hawthorn fans have awaited all summer. A loss won't be a disaster by any means, but a win would certainly cement the belief that the Hawks are a major flag contender.
Injury list
Max Bailey's wrist injury is Hawthorn's major concern. The ruckman is expected to miss at least the first six weeks of the season. Jarryd Roughead (Achilles) and Stephen Gilham (knee) are being eased back towards senior action after serious injuries last year.
Track specialist
Young players Liam Shiels, Shane Savage, Matt Suckling, Ryan Schoenmakers and Cyril Rioli all look noticeably bigger after working hard in the gym over summer. Lance Franklin's pre-season form has been ominous, and recruits Jack Gunston and Jarrad Boumann have both put themselves in the frame for senior selection.
Dream Team special
The bargain priced Boumann (DEF, $104,200) could debut as early as round one, but don't expect him to be a scoring machine. Premium options Sam Mitchell (MID, $554,000) and Franklin (FWD, $503,000) are safe bets.
Draftee watch
Nuggety former Sandringham Dragons onballer Alex Woodward looked the most likely draftee to make an impact this year, but sadly his outstanding pre-season ended when he ruptured his ACL during the NAB Cup. Bradley Hill and Jordan Kelly have settled in well, but might be allowed to develop at Box Hill for now.
Needs a big year
Xavier Ellis and Clinton Young are 2008 premiership players who find themselves on the fringe of the best 22 after injury-interrupted seasons in 2011. Both immensely talented, they have plenty to offer if they can hit form.
Best and fairest tip
Mitchell polled 30 Brownlow votes - the most in the Hawks' history - and comfortably won his third Peter Crimmins Medal in 2011. There's nothing to suggest he won't be around the mark again. But he'll face a strong challenge from 2008 winner Franklin, who many are predicting is hitting his football prime.
The Hawks will have a good year if…
They can spread the goalkicking load. Franklin won the Coleman Medal with 82 goals last year, but Luke Breust was the only other Hawk to crack 30. Coach Alastair Clarkson has admitted the team has been too 'Buddy conscious', allowing opponents to double and triple-team the star. If the midfielders can start regularly hitting up the likes of David Hale, Gunston and Roughead, few defences will cope.
The big issues
Bailey's wrist injury is the immediate concern. The ruckman is out until at least round six, and Clarkson says Roughead won't be asked to help fill his shoes as he comes back from an achilles rupture. That means rookie Broc McCauley is likely to make his Hawthorn debut in front of 80,000 fans at the MCG in round one. More broadly, the issue facing the Hawks is whether they can improve enough to overcome 2011 Grand Finalists the Magpies and Geelong. Start beating those two, and they're on track for the flag.
Best 22
B: Stratton Schoenmakers Gibson
HB: Suckling Roughead Birchall
C: Smith Mitchell Bateman
HF: Burgoyne Franklin Hodge
F: Rioli Hale Breust
F: Bailey Lewis Sewell
I/C: Shiels Guerra Whitecross
Sub: Puopolo
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 1st
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
