The Hawks' premiership side boasted seven players from other clubs – Brian Lake (from the Western Bulldogs), Jack Gunston (Adelaide), Josh Gibson (North Melbourne), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Brent Guerra (Port Adelaide/St Kilda), David Hale (North Melbourne) and Jonathan Simpkin (Sydney Swans/Geelong).
Of this magnificent seven, Guerra is the only one to have played in both the 2008 and 2013 flags.
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Admittedly, in most cases their original clubs tried to hang on to them, but the Hawks swooped and snared a group of players to fit specific needs.
Among them were the best two players afield. Defensive roadblock Lake won the Norm Smith Medal with 12 votes, pipping four-goal forward Gunston by one vote.
A third recycled Hawk, Josh Gibson, was perhaps the most consistent player afield over the four quarters. When Freo skipper Matthew Pavlich broke Lake's shackles to lift his side in the third term, it was Gibson who was swung onto the superstar momentarily and quelled his influence.
An ecstatic Gibson acknowledged the club's role in reigniting their careers.
"It shows just how good the recruiting has been, how good the coaching is, how strong the playing group is, and the club as a whole. Hawthorn's made us the players we are today," he told AFL.com.au.
"It also shows that the guys who come here are made of the right stuff to embrace all of that. Everybody just buys in to the culture and it's brought the best out of us.
"And that's no disrespect to our former clubs. I'm forever grateful for what North Melbourne did for me in giving me my first opportunity, but I'm just glad I made the move to Hawthorn because nothing can top this feeling."
Gibson deflected praise for his own performance to his teammates, and Lake in particular.
"'Lakey' was just unbelievable, and he wasn't the only one. It was a great team effort," he said.
Gunston paid "full credit" to the recruiting staff.
"They've brought in players to fill the needs of the club. We've also seen Bradley Hill come into the team, and younger guys that have really stepped up," he said.
The 21-year-old, who kicked 11 goals in three finals, said his controversial move from Adelaide had paid off.
"It was a bit bigger than I thought it was going to be when I left – I'd only played 14 games. I copped a bit of flak for it but to play in two grand finals with this great club, I couldn't be happier, and I hope I'm here for a long time," he said.
Hale was also thankful for the Hawks giving him a second chance.
"I needed a change at the time and to come to such a great club with a great list, it makes it all worthwhile. The club had a quality list before we came along, so to fill a few holes with new blokes has made us even better," he said.
Guerra said the Hawks make every recruit "feel at home".
"I had to learn the hard way, but 255 games and two premierships, I wouldn’t have thought I'd achieve that," he said.
"It was a massive disappointment last year, missing with my hamstring and also the boys losing, but to win today (is) an unbelievable feeling."
Guerra injured a shoulder and suffered a corked buttock in the preliminary final win over Geelong, but said he was never going to miss the grand final.
"Mate, I would have to have a broken leg to miss today," he said.
Of fellow veteran Lake, Guerra said: "'Lakey', to get him this year, he was massive. He won the Norm Smith and that's why we got him here."
On his own playing future, the 31-year-old said: "I just want to soak up this week and then I'll make a decision. It’s a tough one. The body starts to feel it a bit, and I felt it today … We'll see what happens."
Twitter: @AFL_BenCollins
Admittedly, in most cases their original clubs tried to hang on to them, but the Hawks swooped and snared a group of players to fit specific needs.
Among them were the best two players afield. Defensive roadblock Lake won the Norm Smith Medal with 12 votes, pipping four-goal forward Gunston by one vote.
A third recycled Hawk, Josh Gibson, was perhaps the most consistent player afield over the four quarters. When Freo skipper Matthew Pavlich broke Lake's shackles to lift his side in the third term, it was Gibson who was swung onto the superstar momentarily and quelled his influence.
In his post-match press conference, victorious coach Alastair Clarkson said that since their 2008 premiership, the Hawks have had to "turn over" their list with "a different group of players".
"Part of that was to go and recruit players from other clubs that we really identified as being needs for us. 'Lakey' was one of them, Shaun Burgoyne was one of them, David Hale was another, Jack Gunston was another … and 'Gibbo' from the Kangas," he said.
"They've been first-class for us. It's all about trying to get the chemistry right and put together a side that we think can win on the last day in September."
An ecstatic Gibson acknowledged the club's role in reigniting their careers.
"It shows just how good the recruiting has been, how good the coaching is, how strong the playing group is, and the club as a whole. Hawthorn's made us the players we are today," he told AFL.com.au.
"It also shows that the guys who come here are made of the right stuff to embrace all of that. Everybody just buys in to the culture and it's brought the best out of us.
"And that's no disrespect to our former clubs. I'm forever grateful for what North Melbourne did for me in giving me my first opportunity, but I'm just glad I made the move to Hawthorn because nothing can top this feeling."
Gibson deflected praise for his own performance to his teammates, and Lake in particular.
"'Lakey' was just unbelievable, and he wasn't the only one. It was a great team effort," he said.
Gunston paid "full credit" to the recruiting staff.
"They've brought in players to fill the needs of the club. We've also seen Bradley Hill come into the team, and younger guys that have really stepped up," he said.
The 21-year-old, who kicked 11 goals in three finals, said his controversial move from Adelaide had paid off.
"It was a bit bigger than I thought it was going to be when I left – I'd only played 14 games. I copped a bit of flak for it but to play in two grand finals with this great club, I couldn't be happier, and I hope I'm here for a long time," he said.
Hale was also thankful for the Hawks giving him a second chance.
"I needed a change at the time and to come to such a great club with a great list, it makes it all worthwhile. The club had a quality list before we came along, so to fill a few holes with new blokes has made us even better," he said.
Guerra said the Hawks make every recruit "feel at home".
"I had to learn the hard way, but 255 games and two premierships, I wouldn’t have thought I'd achieve that," he said.
"It was a massive disappointment last year, missing with my hamstring and also the boys losing, but to win today (is) an unbelievable feeling."
Guerra injured a shoulder and suffered a corked buttock in the preliminary final win over Geelong, but said he was never going to miss the grand final.
"Mate, I would have to have a broken leg to miss today," he said.
Of fellow veteran Lake, Guerra said: "'Lakey', to get him this year, he was massive. He won the Norm Smith and that's why we got him here."
On his own playing future, the 31-year-old said: "I just want to soak up this week and then I'll make a decision. It’s a tough one. The body starts to feel it a bit, and I felt it today … We'll see what happens."
Twitter: @AFL_BenCollins
