HAWTHORN will enter this season with more ‘elite’ talent than any other club, according to Champion Data’s player ratings.

The Hawks have eight players who fall into the elite category – meaning players ranked in the top 10 percent in their position across the competition.

Seven of those players have retained the same status from last year, with midfielder Sam Mitchell the addition after an exceptional 2015, in place of departed free agent Matthew Suckling.

Forwards Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli, Jack Gunston and Luke Breust – plus defenders Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall and Shaun Burgoyne - have retained their elite status from the previous season. 

The Hawks forward line alone has more players in the top category than thirteen other clubs across the field.

West Coast Eagles is ranked as the next best team with six ‘elite’ players, followed by Fremantle (five), Richmond (four), Western Bulldogs (four), Adelaide (three) and Geelong (three).

The Hawks also have another seven players in the ‘above average’ category – meaning they fall within the top 35 percent of their position.

This group includes captain Luke Hodge, vice-captain Jordan Lewis, and fellow premiership players James Frawley, Liam Shiels, Ben McEvoy, Paul Puopolo and Ryan Schoenmakers.

The rankings are based on Champion Data’s analysis of players’ most recent form.

It ranks players in five categories – elite, above average, average, below average and poor – with players with less than 10 games to their name across the previous two seasons not being ranked.