HAWTHORN'S decision to look to the future and give young players key roles in the second half of the season could be the catalyst for a return to finals in 2018, according to coach Alastair Clarkson.
The Hawks' season came to an emotional close on Friday night as champion Luke Hodge bid farewell to the game with a nine-point win against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
It was a season that started with four straight losses and saw a number of key premiership players struck down with serious injuries, but Clarkson said those hurdles had exposed young players and shown there are exciting times ahead.
After the round 13 bye, the Hawks won six games and played a thrilling draw with Greater Western Sydney, losing only three games.
"We knew as a football club that our best footy with that group of players was behind us rather than in front of us, so we needed to inject some younger players into our group," Clarkson said on Friday night.
"We were realistic about where we were … and what we needed to do to get ourselves back, not so much into the season but just to start to demonstrate the pathway forward for us has got some blue sky to it.
"I think we were able to show that in the second half of the year in particular.
"With a lot of hard work and another good summer, hopefully we can build on this year and find our way back up the ladder and hopefully play finals again next year."
Clarkson said season-ending injuries to premiership heroes Grant Birchall, James Frawley, Cyril Rioli and the retiring Josh Gibson meant those youngsters who came into the team were forced to fill big shoes.
Daniel Howe, who has played as a run-with midfielder, and defender Kaiden Brand were two players the coach said had flourished because of the significant roles they had been given.
"They have to play really important roles for us … it wasn't like they were just hanging out on the bench or playing peripheral roles for us," Clarkson said.
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"Brand, in the absence of Frawley, had to stand up and play on some pretty formidable opponents over the second half of the year in particular.
"Howe, over a six or eight-week patch, every player he played on was either a Brownlow medallist or a best and fairest winner.
"The learnings those guys have got out of the second half of the year has been really important for them, and more importantly really valuable for our football club."
Rather than "commiserate the loss" of Hodge, one of the club's all-time greats, Clarkson said the Hawks needed to look to the future.
"He's such a decorated servant and you become so reliant on those guys. But you move on," the coach said.
"As important as those players are and as decorated as they've been for our football club, it's natural evolution that they come and go.
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"Those older guys will be replaced and you move on, but all clubs have to face it.
"Those clubs that embrace it and look at it as an opportunity for the future, rather than commiserate the loss … they recover the best. That's what we'll be trying to do."
The Hawks were given a glimpse of the future on Friday night, with star recruit Jaeger O'Meara winning 25 possessions and laying 11 tackles in his second game back from a season ruined by knee injuries.
"I think he showed our supporters a bit in the last couple of games, but particularly tonight," Clarkson said.
