With the free agency window set to open on Friday before the trade period starts next Monday, the so-called “footy silly season” is about to hit full-flight.
Ahead of this important time on the footy calendar, we thought we would have a look at some of the burning questions that face the Hawks heading into the 2018 season…
Will Clarko settle on leaving James Sicily to develop as a defender?
After thriving as a forward in 2016 as he kicked 30 goals from his 22 games, Hawthorn fans would have felt confident that James Sicily was set to have a long career in the Hawks’ forward line. But come midway through this year, Sicily was thrust into defence as one of numerous positional changes made by Alastair Clarkson after the bye.
The next 10 games of the year to close out the season saw the 22-year old average 24.1 possessions, 9.1 marks, 4.5 rebound 50s and 2.2 contested marks. He shined as a skilful option in the back six.
So, now that Sicily has shown a propensity to play at either end of the ground, where will he be lining up come Round 1 2018?
Can Tom Mitchell break the 800-disposal mark in the home and away season?
Mitchell took the league by storm this year, setting a new home and away season record by gathering 787 disposals across the 22 games. Naturally, the question will be can the 24-year old do it again… or, can he go even bigger?
The former Swan did not miss a game this season, being one of just six Hawks to play every game. His consistency was incredible, failing to exceed 30 disposals on only two occasions on his way to averaging 35.8 touches per game.
If the ball magnet is to break the 800-barrier next season, he will have to boost that rate to 36.4 possessions while appearing in all 22 games again in season 2018.
We will wait and see!
What does life look like in the post-Hodge and Gibson era?
Not since 2000 has Hawthorn faced a season without the names of either Hodge or Gibson on their list.
It’s not every year that a club has had to deal with the loss of three and four-time premiership players and all the experience that comes with that.
Hawthorn fans will have been buoyed by the development of some young defenders in 2017, but they will be keen to see whether the likes of Sicily, Brand, Burton and Hardwick are ready to fend for themselves in the upcoming season.
Read: Hodge confirms plans to move to Brisbane
Do the Hawks brain trust have anything up their sleeve ahead of the trade period?
This time last year the Hawthorn coaching and list managing staff were readying themselves to be one of the key players in the player movement period. The departures of Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell coupled with the likes of incoming pair Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara meant the Hawks were kept busy for the entire two weeks.
Ahead of the start of 2017 trade period, it seems unlikely that Hawthorn will leave as much of a mark. The Hawks currently hold picks 32, 42, 60 and 79, and are, according to Alastair Clarkson, lacking the assets to make any big plays.
But Hawks fans have been surprised before and will still be eagerly watching to see what list manager Graham Wright has in mind.
Can Jaeger O’Meara get himself fit and firing for next year?
Coming across from the Gold Coast Suns at the end of the 2016 season, O’Meara arrived with huge hype. Having been ravaged by injury over the previous two years, the 23-year old was hopeful his luck would turn as he entered the Ricoh Centre.
As it happened, the midfielder managed just six games in 2017 as knee injuries continued to plague his return. But O’Meara finished the season promisingly, playing the final two games of the season, and doing enough to earn himself a Brownlow vote in Round 23.
Fans will keep a keen eye on the pre-season tracking of the recruit this summer, as O’Meara continues his return to the form the Hawks know he is capable of.
Will we see the return of Jeff Kennett’s brown and gold blazer in 2018?
It was one of the big questions on everyone’s lips on the back of Wednesday’s news that Kennett was returning to Hawthorn.
That brown and gold blazer will be etched in everyone’s minds and there will be many keen observers to see whether the incoming president gives his iconic jacket a re-run in 2018.
However, fans could be waiting a while (at least 'til September), with Kennett declaring he "won't wear it again until the Hawks are in a grand final".
