2013 LADDER FINISH: 1st

ARRIVALS: Ben McEvoy, Billy Hartung, Dayle Garlett, James Sicily, Dallas Willsmore, Zac Webster, Kurt Heatherley, Shem-Calvin Tatupu

DEPARTURES: Max Bailey, Michael Osborne, Brent Guerra, Lance Franklin, Shane Savage, Amos Frank, Ciaran Kilkenny

Click here for more 2014 season previews

BEST 22
B: Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Josh Gibson
HB: Grant Birchall, Ryan Schoenmakers, Luke Hodge
C: Brad Hill, Sam Mitchell, Isaac Smith
HF: Cyril Rioli, David Hale, Shaun Burgoyne
F: Jack Gunston, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Bruest
R: Ben McEvoy, Jordan Lewis, Liam Shiels
I/C: Brad Sewell, Matt Suckling, Paul Puopolo
SUB: Jonathan Simpkin

MEDICAL ROOM
Brendan Whitecross (knee) indefinite
Ben Stratton (hamstring) 2-3 weeks
Brad Sewell (hamstring) 2 weeks
Jed Anderson (illness) 1 week
Ryan Schoenmakers (knee) 1-2 weeks

Check out the AFL's injury list

PASS MARK FOR 2014: The mantra at Hawthorn is to make the top four after the home and away season and then try win the flag from there. Given the deep talent and the state of the playing list, you would think a top four finish would be a minimum requirement.

NEEDS A BIG YEAR: Jarryd Roughead. He is the most important player at the club, more so now that other bloke ditched the club so he could take up the Bondi lifestyle. Roughead kicked 72 goals last year to win the Coleman Medal, but he played every game and without him, the Hawks are an unknown quantity.

FIRST FIVE GAMES: Brisbane Lions (AU), Essendon (ES), Fremantle (MCG), Gold Coast (MS), Geelong (MCG)

Click here to see Hawthorn's entire 2014 fixture

PLAY TWICE: Geelong, Collingwood, Sydney Swans, Gold Coast, Fremantle

TOUGHEST RUN: The Hawks face a monster run into the finals with games against Fremantle (in Perth), Geelong and Collingwood in the last three home and away games. It could be tricky if the Hawks still need to keep winning to make the top four or ensure a home final in week one.

DREAM SCENARIO: If the Hawks can win the flag again it would mean so much. Back to back for just the second time, 12 flags would leave them equal fourth on the all-time premiership ladder and three flags in six years would make it a legitimate question as to whether the Cats or the Hawks are the best team of the last decade.

WORST NIGHTMARE: Hawthorn ended last season with four players - Alex Woodward, Ryan Schoenmakers, Matt Suckling and Brendan Whitecross - in various stages of recovery from ACL injuries. They'll be hoping for better luck this time around.

PRESSURE RATING ON THE COACH: 3/10. Armed with a contract extension that keeps him at Hawthorn until at least the end of 2016, Alastair Clarkson is at the top of his game. He will become the second longest serving coach of the club in the middle of the season and if he can lead his men to another premiership this year, he will be talked about at Hawthorn with the same reverence as John Kennedy Snr and Allan Jeans.