Isaac Smith’s dominance across the club’s preseason time trials has continued, with the endurance athlete claiming his eighth win from the Hawks’ last nine runs.

The speedy wingman took out Monday’s 2.2km trial for the fourth consecutive time to continue his era of dominance, with the 2015 pre-Christmas time trial the only time he’s failed to cross the finish line first.

On that occasion it was former Hawk Billy Hartung who managed to pip Smith, but with regular rivals Hartung and triple premiership player Bradley Hill no longer at the club, it appears a new Hawk has emerged as a consistent challenger.  

Small defender Harry Morrison finished runner up in Monday’s time trial for the second successive time this pre-season and looms as the heir apparent to Hawthorn’s endurance crown.

Read: Hawks impress in time trial

Morrison made his debut for the Hawks in the final round of the 2017 season, gathering 21 disposals and quickly showing his ability to break the lines and gain metres for his side. Hawks fans will be left to ponder whether they might be set to see Morrison partner Smith on the wing in 2018 after his impressive endurance results.

Monday’s trial around Waverley also signalled what could be an even greater changing of the guard for the Hawks when it comes to its preseason endurance events with its recent wave of draftees performing ominously.

Draftees Dylan Moore, who was taken with Pick 67 in the 2017 National Draft, and Changkuoth Jiath, a Category B rookie selection, finished fourth and fifth respectively, with the pair likely to only improve further in coming pre-seasons.

2.2km time trial recent winners

2011 - Isaac Smith
2012 - Isaac Smith
2013 - Isaac Smith
2014 - Isaac Smith
2015 - Billy Hartung
2016 - Isaac Smith
2017 - Isaac Smith (January)
2017 - Isaac Smith (November)
2018 - Isaac Smith (January)