1. Hawks on the back foot early

Slow starts have been an issue for the Hawks in recent weeks.

Fremantle kicked three of the first four goals on Saturday, continuing the trend of opposition sides getting a jump on the Hawks.

A week earlier, Richmond jumped out to a three-goal lead early, while GWS Giants kicked ahead to a 31-point lead at quarter time in Round 6. In Round 5, Adelaide also opened up a quarter-time advantage.

It’s an area Alastair Clarkson and the coaching staff will no doubt be trying to fix as soon as possible.

2. Liam Shiels, tackling machine

Eight rounds into the season, and Liam Shiels’ tackling has been a highlight.

The tough midfielder missed the first two rounds of 2016 due to a wrist injury, but has since led the AFL for tackles per game, averaging 9.7.

Against the Dockers, he racked up 15 tackles to go with 15 disposals, backing up a 16-tackle, 16-disposal effort against Richmond the week before.

3. Gunston on target, again

Forwards are often judged by the goals they kick, and if that’s the case, Jack Gunston has enjoyed a strong three-week block.

In the first six rounds of 2016, the key forward managed 7.6, and in the past three weeks he has kicked 12.2.

Over the past three weeks, Gunston has overtaken Peter Knights and John Kennedy Jnr on the Hawks’ all-time goalkicking table, moving into 25th place with 219 goals from 97 games as a Hawk.

4. Hawks deliver in premiership quarter

While a perfect four-quarter performance has evaded the Hawks so far in 2016, a 30-minute patch on Saturday would have had Hawks’ fans licking their lips.

In the third quarter against the Dockers, the Hawks ran rampant – and only inaccurate kicking prevented total demolition.

The Hawks went inside 50 on 18 occasions during the third term, kicking 8.7 – while restricting the Dockers to just 15 effective kicks.

5. When Isaac Smith is up and about…

… the Hawks are hard to stop.

Every time Smith has collected 20 or more disposals in 2016, the Hawks have won. And the three times he’s collected 25 disposals or more – against West Coast, Richmond and Fremantle - the Hawks have arguably played some of their best footy.

Smith had a team-high 27 disposals on the weekend – including 18 kicks – and was pivotal to a win against the Dockers.