ALASTAIR Clarkson says he expects new recruit Jono O'Rourke to contribute immediately at senior level. 

After sealing back-to-back premierships in 2014, the Hawks went shopping during the off-season, landing prized free agent James Frawley and adding talented Greater Western Sydney midfielder O'Rourke through the NAB AFL Trade Period.

O'Rourke, 20, was taken as the No.2 selection in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, and played nine games in his two seasons at GWS.

Clarkson answered a host of questions on the AFL Facebook page on Wednesday as part of AFL Media's #AskTheCoach series, and a hot topic was his two new recruits. 

"We've recruited Frawley and O'Rourke with a mindset of being able to contribute at senior level straight away," Clarkson said.

"Some of our younger players have been drafted as 18-year-olds who just need some time to learn the craft and physically prepare them for the challenges ahead." 

Two young players that have started learning their craft were also on the minds of Hawks fans who fired questions to their three-time premiership coach. 

On injury-riddled Jed Anderson – taken in the same draft as O'Rourke – Clarkson said: "Jed's had an interrupted 12 months with season ending shoulder surgery in 2013, and together with a number of other youngsters in our system, he's ready to step up and play regular senior football," he said. 

Clarkson was also hopeful second-year player Billy Hartung could crack into the senior team. 

"We'd like to think he's tracking in the same pathway as Bradley Hill from a couple of years ago," he said. "We're searching for him to get more opportunities in 2015." 

Click through to the comments below and see how the chat unfolded.