THE LAST plank of Hawthorn's hierarchical order was in place once dual Olympic cyclist Tracey Gaudry was unveiled last week as its new chief executive.

Gaudry enters Waverley Park at a time coach Alastair Clarkson forecast "catastrophic change" in the playing group if the sorry start to season 2017 continued.

The most successful club of the past decade – the Hawks have won four flags under Clarkson since 2008 – has started this season with an unflattering 1-5 win-loss record and is under the microscope like never before.

The infamous "unsociable" football for which the Hawks were once known contrasted greatly with teammates' feeble response after captain Luke Hodge copped a crude elbow to the head against arch-rival Geelong on Easter Monday.

That incident is back in the spotlight this week as Hawthorn prepares to lock horns with Melbourne and one of its premiership heroes, former resident hard man and tough talker Jordan Lewis.

Lewis joined ex-skipper Sam Mitchell in departing the club in last year's extraordinary trade period, along with speedster Brad Hill.

Some will say those moves shattered the club’s renowned culture. Others claim those decisions exemplify the Hawks’ league-leading foresight under Clarkson and will fast-track the club’s rebuild.

What cannot be debated is that the drop off in on-field performance has been alarming.

It's been a rough 2017 for Clarkson and the Hawks so far. Picture: AFL Photos


Clarkson, in his 13th season in charge, is surrounded by fresh faces.

As well as new recruits Jaeger O'Meara, Tom Mitchell and Ty Vickery, there is a new president, Richard Garvey, who succeeded Andrew Newbold last year and was alongside Gaudry at last week's announcement.

"There's a first time for everything": Getting to know the new Hawks' CEO

Then there is Jason Burt, who replaced new Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan as general manager of football operations in October.

Burt is the inconspicuous man you see alongside Clarkson in the coach's box and sometimes as he walks into media conferences and at VFL affiliate Box Hill's matches.

Clarkson was rarely spotted without Fagan, and a familiar trend is emerging with Burt.

Burt remains largely a mystery man in the AFL world, similar to another long-time Clarkson ally, head of football strategy and innovation David Rath.

One person AFL.com.au spoke to admitted to being surprised "to a degree" at Burt's promotion after he started at Hawthorn in December 2006 as player development manager.

In between, Burt became head of player services and football administration in 2014.

Part of his job was filling Fagan's off-field void as his predecessor focused on, effectively, being Clarkson's main on-field assistant.

Burt, according to those who know him, is a "completely different" operator to Fagan and they have "different strengths and weaknesses".

Think Fagan and his "fairly significant" coaching expertise versus Burt's football administration background.

Clarkson and Fagan were in lock-step at Hawthorn for nine seasons. Picture: AFL Photos


Former Hawks list boss Chris Pelchen compares Burt's unassuming style and personality to his West Coast equivalent Craig Vozzo.

"Chris (Fagan) was a person always by Alastair's side; in a colloquial sense, piggybacking to make sure Alastair was supported at all times," Pelchen said.

"He was a right-hand man, a confidante.

"Jason will differ in a sense, because he won't be by Alastair's side the whole time and will spend more time behind the desk … Jason is not an on-field presence."

Burt fits the Hawthorn football department cookie-cutter as an ex-teacher.

Clarkson, Rath, Damian Carroll and recent Hawks employees Bolton, Fagan, Rob McCartney and Mark Evans have the same classroom experience.

Burt taught with Clarkson's wife, Caryn, at Melbourne Grammar School – where he worked between 1997 and 2001 – so there is a longstanding relationship there that pre-dates Hawthorn.

He is married, considered a "family man", and has two sons, one of whom, Harrison, plays for Box Hill.

"Jason's a very trusted person within the club, particularly to Clarko and the playing group," a former Hawks staff member told AFL.com.au.

"Clarko is a man who bases relationships on loyalty and trust, and Jason earned that trust over a long period of time.

"In my time, the relationship he had with the players enabled him to connect with them in a very deep way, but also to provide a challenge to people."

Football manager job descriptions differ by club, but the role typically involves coordinating off-field activities and offering high-level support to players and coaches.

Two Hawthorn players who worked with Burt and spoke to AFL.com.au paint a picture of a caring, approachable and composed individual equally able to offer a hug as make a hard call.

He is not a man to rant and rave, argue or labour a point, and some commentators have queried Burt's ability to keep the feisty Clarkson "in check".

One source doubted Burt could ever do it, suggesting it was a skill Fagan possessed and was pivotal to the Hawks' glory years.

Hawthorn Team of the Century member and former recruiting manager Gary Buckenara is monitoring the situation with interest before making a judgment.

"Jason did a terrific job in his welfare role," Buckenara said.

"We had some players who needed some management – all clubs do – and there were issues at all times of the day and someone has to manage them, and that was Jason's role.

"He progressed from downstairs up to the management area … time will tell whether Burt and Clarkson are as dynamic as Fages and Clarko."

Where Burt's challenge begins is convincing the doubters who believe Fagan was the glue that held the place together that he, too, can be a positive influence.

Shaking the tag – unfair or not – as the "safe bet" who bided his time and fitted Clarkson's teaching criterion is another one.

Tom Mitchell is one of a host of new faces as Hawthorn enters a transition phase. Picture: AFL Photos


The Hawks are a club in transition, regardless of the eight All Australians still on the list, and a series of newcomers will help decide their future.

Clarkson has no interest in Burt having a profile, as he admitted in a post-match media conference in recent weeks, and the new football manager is little known outside Hawthorn.

But that will change if he can use his strength in communication, build those "deep" player relationships and reinvigorate a team with a self-confessed hunger shortage.