HAWTHORN'S shot at creating history by winning three premierships in a row could hinge on depth players such as returning utility Brendan Whitecross, Hawks vice-captain Jarryd Roughead says.
The Hawks are gunning for the chance to match the legendary Brisbane Lions premiership teams of 2001-03 this season, with the mantle of becoming the undisputed greatest team of the modern era also within reach.
But Roughead said the Hawks weren't drawing their motivation from the opportunity to write themselves into AFL folklore and were focused only on keeping ahead of the chasing pack.
"I don't think (Hawthorn is motivated by history). I think you guys (the media) will have a bit more fun with that in terms of being able to write that," Roughead said during a joint press conference with Melbourne Stars cricketer John Hastings at the MCG on Tuesday.
"It wasn't a driving factor to win last year either. But just the chance to get yourself back in a position to win it is good enough."
Players like Matt Suckling, Matt Spangher and Taylor Duryea missed the Hawks' 2013 triumph and were a driving force behind the club's back-to-back success.
Roughead said this year it could be Whitecross, who is on the comeback trail from a second knee reconstruction suffered in the 2013 preliminary final, who plays a crucial role in sustaining the club's period of success.
"He's been training at the moment, not fully with the group yet. But it's a long season as we all know and Hawthorn's depth has been pretty good over the last couple of years," Roughead said.
"So he'll be a vital part of where we go this year with a number of blokes as well."
Whitecross and Jed Anderson (shoulder) will be like new recruits after they missed all of last year, while key defender James Frawley and Jonathan O'Rourke are among nine off-season additions.
"Those two boys have come into the group seamless and fitted in no worries at all. Not only them but the draftees and these other boys that have come in," Roughead said.
"I think they recruited (Frawley) to play defence and that's where he's been training at the moment, so I dare say he'll be a defender.
"I've played against him before and he's an All Australian, so he's definitely a very good player."
Roughead wouldn't be drawn on comparisons to last year's squad, however, and the 2013 Coleman medallist said triple-premiership coach Alastair Clarkson is yet to reveal if he's masterminded any changes to the game plan.
"I don't know if he's invented too much just yet … he's taken a bit of a back seat (at training)," he said.
"But I suppose like a lot of clubs you've got to keep trying to improve because if you stand still the rest of the competition are going to catch up."
