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• How the Hawks won it: Peter Ryan's analysis
• Suckling's journey from tears to cheers
HAWTHORN intends to cement its status as the greatest team of the modern era by becoming "a juggernaut of the AFL", Hawks president Andrew Newbold has declared.
After winning their third flag in seven seasons, comparisons between the Hawks and bitter rivals Geelong have inevitably gone into overdrive.
Speaking at Hawthorn's supporters day at Glenferrie Oval on Sunday, Newbold said the proud club's back-to-back success threw into focus how far it had come since the Hawks were on their knees and on the brink of merging with Melbourne in 1996.
He whipped the feverish crowd of thousands into a frenzy by declaring the Hawks were far from finished as a premiership force.
"It was fantastic to see many of you guys out there yesterday and a lot of the brown and the gold," Newbold told the masses.
"I think we're now sending a big message to the AFL that this club is here to stay and we plan to be a juggernaut of the AFL."
Newbold was handed the keys to the City of Boroondara by mayor Coral Ross before making way for three-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson and the tired but jubilant Hawks players, with the 2013 and '14 premiership cups in tow.
"This is the 12th time in about 50 years or so that the brown and gold have been able to salute this beautiful piece of silverware," Clarkson told the masses.
"We're never going to get sick of winning on Grand Final day, so continue to support the Hawks.
"We look forward to trying to do it again next year."
Winning flags has become the norm for the Hawks since they secured their first in 1961.
But two-time premiership captain and Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge had a different answer when quizzed about a moment from the Grand Final that defined the 'Hawthorn way'.
"When I kissed Buddy," Hodge joked to huge cheers.
"I didn't think the camera was going to get me. I thought I was behind play. If the cockroach (coach Alastair Clarkson) had seen it, I reckon he would have gone nuts.
"[Franklin] ran through me a couple of times and gave me a few words, so I thought the best thing to do was to give him a little kiss on the cheek and let him know we are still here."
Although Hodge's words were met with wild applause and cheers, there was no doubting who the crowd wanted to hear from – man of the moment Matt Spangher.
After watching Eagles', Swans' and Hawks' teammates win premierships without him, the cult hero finally got his turn on Saturday.
"You'll have to excuse the voice, I've had to celebrate for the ones I've missed out. So I had a good time last night," a husky-sounding Spangher said.
"I certainly dreamed of it, but yeah, it's bloody nice."
With that, the players were whisked off for a low-key celebration with Hawthorn's staff.
But many fans stayed around a little longer, keen to keep the party alive after flag No.12 and daring to dream of a lucky 13th in 2015.
