It is well known that one of the cornerstones upon which Hawthorn built a dynasty that saluted four premierships is a game-style that requires a high-level of skill.

Over the past decade, the Hawks have shown a clear intent to own the ball by foot, keeping the ball off the opposition and patiently picking apart their defensive structure.

In nine of the past 11 seasons, the Hawks have ranked top two in the competition for disposal efficiency, with seven of those years at the top of the table in the statistic.

The Hawks are again on track to extend this impressive feat in 2017, leading GWS and St Kilda this year in the race for possession proficiency. 

Interestingly, the Hawks delivered their highest standard of efficiency in 2007, when they went at a rate of 79%.

These numbers coincide strongly with uncontested possession, a category that the Hawks reigned supreme league-wide from 2011 to 2015 before conceding the mantle to last year’s premiers, the Western Bulldogs. 

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Every premier since 2011 has ranked inside the top three for uncontested possession.

This year, the Hawks rank sixth in uncontested possession. 

The reason this is of note is that, despite the Hawks current, unfamiliar, lowly position on the ladder, the foundations that built one of the greatest sides in the game’s history remain. 

The Hawks have more players than any other team in the competition who average at least 80 per cent disposal efficiency having played at least two games, with 10 Hawks satisfying these criteria.