TOUGH-NUTCampbell Brown believes Hawthorn can still have a tilt at this year'spremiership despite finishing the home and away season in fifth position.
Brown said the Hawks were naturally disappointed to slip outof the top four after losing to Sydneyat the SCG on Sunday, but he was adamant that the race for the flag was stillwide open.
"Of course we can [still win it]. Any one of the eightsides can win it from here, and it comes down to how you play on the day. Ithink the competition is so even that on any given day, any side can win,"Brown said at WaverleyPark on Monday.
Brown said Hawthorn's 72-point defeat — the club’s worst forthe season — was a disappointing result on the eve of the finals.
"Obviously there was a lot at stake for a top-fourfinish and we let that slip, but we've just got to regroup this week. We'reback at Telstra Dome, where we play pretty good footy," Brown said.
"We'll get together this week and work out why we didn't go so wellagainst Sydney, because we're going to get apretty similar game against AdelaideI would've thought.
"We probably didn't work hard enough. The SCG is alittle bit smaller as well, and Sydneyobviously plays that extremely well. They just shut us down a bit, and we'vejust got to learn to work harder as a team when they're playing moreaccountable footy."
With the first elimination final at Telstra Dome onSaturday, Brown said playing at Docklands, rather than the Hawks' home ground,the MCG, was not an issue.
"Players haven't discussed it, and that's just how thefinals draw goes. We're just excited about being in the finals for the timesince 2001," Brown said.
"The AFL does the draw as best they can and we're just pretty happy. Weplay the Telstra Dome well and we'll be happy playing any day, especially whenit's a final."
Brown believes his defensive mate Trent Croad will be readyto play in the first week of the finals despite being concussed against theSwans.
"It was his 200th game, so it was really disappointingfor him to finish like that and for us to lose, but he's pulled up fine and heflew back on the plane with us. He had a bit of a headache, so he'll befine," Brown said.
Brown was also optimistic about midfielder Chance Bateman’s recovery in timefrom a hamstring strain sustained against the Swans.
"He's a pretty tough fella, so he'll be doing everythingright to get himself up," Brown said.