B: Grant Birchall, Brian Lake, Josh Gibson

HB: Shaun Burgoyne, James Frawley, Luke Hodge

C: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill


HF: Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli

F: David Hale, Jarryd Roughead, Paul Puopolo

Foll: Ben McEvoy, Jordan Lewis, Will Langford

I/C: Liam Shiels, Ben Stratton, Matt Suckling 

Sub: Jed Anderson

 

A mixture of luck and good management meant the Hawks returned from their break with very few injury concerns. Matt Suckling had knee surgery after the Grand Final, but nearly all of the Hawks' veterans have enjoyed strong pre-seasons. The main worries have been Grant Birchall's medial strain, Matt Spangher's calf and Kaiden Brand's shoulder reconstruction. Brendan Whitecross (ACL) and Jed Anderson (shoulder) are in terrific shape after missing all of 2014.

 

Do they have the hunger for a three-peat? All the signs point to 'Yes'. At the season launch Alastair Clarkson commented how driven the squad has been over summer. Even after back-to-back flags there's plenty of players yet to win a medallion – including Whitecross, Anderson, Ryan Schoenmakers, Jonathon Ceglar and newcomer James Frawley.

 

How fast will Frawley adapt? The former Demon started the NAB Challenge shakily but improved as wiser heads and quality ball-users returned. How he fares under the real heat of battle will be fascinating.

 

Can Clarkson keep the Hawks happy? The coach has already told about 15 players they're unlikely to feature much this season. The Hawks need to juggle their push for further success with regenerating the list to avoid more young guns following Mitch Hallahan's lead and looking elsewhere for opportunities.

 

Billy Hartung is renowned for his speed and aerobic capacity and the second-year midfielder has enjoyed a massive pre-season. Hartung returned from the break in super shape and pushed one of the AFL's elite runners Isaac Smith all the way in a time trial. After playing seven matches in his debut season, 20-year-old Hartung is one of the fringe Hawks on the cusp of more game time.

 

Priced at just $172,000, exciting on-baller Jed Anderson is a fantasy bargain. The 21-year-old is effectively coming off two pre-seasons worth of running after a shoulder injury ruled him out for the entirety of 2014. Anderson was super in the NAB Challenge opener – his first match for nearly 12 months - and looks ready to explode.

 

No surprises here, with James Frawley's presence certain to be felt in 2015. The ex-Demon should be a huge asset in defence alongside Brian Lake and he could release Josh Gibson as a more attacking weapon. Expect Frawley to sneak forward every now and again as well.

 

It's crunch time for…Ryan Schoenmakers

After turning down a trade and deciding to fight for his spot after Frawley's arrival, the pressure is on out-of-contract swingman Schoenmakers to nail down a starting berth. Key defensive posts are suddenly at a premium and the 195cm Hawk has trained as a forward over summer, although there's no obvious spot available in Hawthorn's full-strength team.

 

Round one v Geelong at the MCG. Hawthorn has ended one hoodoo against the Cats, but not since 2007 have the Hawks won their first meeting against Geelong in a new season. One suspects Hawthorn’s biggest games won’t come until deep into September but in five days' time they’ll reacquaint with the Cats to kick-off their season at the MCG. As usual, it shapes as a not-to-be-missed Easter Monday blockbuster.

 

Everything bar the kitchen sink was thrown at the Hawks last year, but they defied a savage injury toll and won back-to-back flags. Clarkson's side lacks nothing and it's difficult to imagine them dropping off with the lure of a history-making three-peat spurring them on. 

 

AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 2nd

Premiership clock: Right on midnight for the powerful Hawks. Don't be surprised if they're there again on Grand Final day.