KADE Stewart made his debut for Hawthorn on Saturday and what a quick elevation it was, progressing from the rookie list to the MCG in less than a week. 

The Hawks have now unveiled four debutants this year – Kieran Lovell, Marc Pittonet and Kaiden Brand are the others – while youngsters James Sicily, Tim O'Brien and Daniel Howe have also had lengthy exposure at AFL level this year.

The Hawks are attempting a difficult balancing act in 2016 as they attempt to regenerate while having a stab at history by trying to win a fourth straight flag.

At 8-3, they're right in the mix and their hopes of a top four finish at the end of the home and away season are on track. That has been their recipe for success in seasons past and the platform from which they hope to win it again in 2016.

But even though they're better placed than last year, they're not entirely convincing. With 11 games down and 11 to go, their percentage of 108.94 is their lowest at this time of the year since 2010. 

They're averaging 98.5 points game compared to 109.5 at the midpoint of last season and the effects of missing two big forwards, Jarryd Roughead and Ryan Schoenmakers,is plain to see. They're scrounging their goals and so far, albeit just, it has been enough. 

Such is the respect the Hawks have garnered the last few years that nobody is game to dismiss their premiership hopes. Their phenomenal success in close games this year suggests that the hunger is still there. There is not one team in the competition that would relish the thought of a finals clash with the September specialists, particularly at the MCG.

But they're playing with house money this year. Win it yet again and it will be the most incredible of accomplishments. It will be the football story not just of this year, but of this decade. Fall short and it has been a golden era nonetheless and the seeds of another possible premiership campaign might yet have been planted.