Blake Hardwick's untimely injury on the eve of the season has created a spanner in the works for Hawthorn's match committee.
Hardwick will spend the next three months on the sidelines with a ruptured pectoral muscle after a heavy collision in Friday's scratch match against the Saints.
The 23-year-old joins fellow defender Jarman Impey on the sidelines, with Impey unlikely to return to the field until the second half of the season.
Yet even with Hardwick and Impey out, there is a premium on defensive spots in coach Alastair Clarkson's team.
The Hawks' wish to increase their options down back saw them trade for wantaway Demon Sam Frost and sign ex-Bomber Michael Hartley as a delisted free agent in the off-season.
That followed them redeploying No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy as a key defender in the final two rounds of last year.
Throw in All-Australian full-back James Frawley, captain Ben Stratton, the versatile James Sicily and young gun Jack Scrimshaw, who was recruited from Gold Coast ahead of last season.
Hawthorn also handed Changkuoth Jiath – better known as 'CJ' – his senior debut in round 21 last year, and has tall swingmen Jacob Koschitzke and Emerson Jeka waiting in the wings.
Tim O'Brien, who spent much of the last two years in defence, is now part of the Hawks' towering forward line, alongside Jon Patton and Mitch Lewis, while Grant Birchall signed with Brisbane.
"What we're trying to work on is having depth of position," Clarkson told AFL.com.au.
"It's a bit like the NFL terminology, in terms of having the depth chart … when the No.1 running back can't play for whatever reason, then you go to your No.2 and if he's injured, you go to No.3.
"We want to have a depth chart that's usually based on experience being the higher rated but certainly talent (as well), and just having young guys that are learning and being nurtured by the older ones in the group.
"The stronger clubs in the competition – the West Coasts, Richmonds, Collingwoods and Geelongs – have got good strength of depth."
Stratton's ability to lock down some of the competition's best small forwards last season arguably went under the radar.
Among the Hawks skipper's opponents in 2019 were Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett, Toby Greene, Cameron (twice), Orazio Fantasia, Rohan, Alex Sexton and Liam Ryan – and he never conceded more than two goals.
Frost's arrival is helpful, given he can switch between talls and smalls, including match-ups with Rohan, Walters and Elliott last year where he coughed up a combined three majors.
Clarkson is also comfortable with Sicily and even Frawley, because of his speed off the mark, manning those types of forwards.
"Some smaller guys hate playing on bigger guys, because in terms of body strength, the ball gets to ground level and as long as they've got the speed and agility, then it's difficult for a smaller forward to play on them," Clarkson said.
"Just having that versatility is important with the way we play our defence."
Stratton was "a lock" in Clarkson's defence even before Hardwick went down, and Sicily, Frawley, Frost and McEvoy are as good as certain to be there as well.
Hardwick's extended absence means someone else will get an opportunity.
Scrimshaw has overcome the groin injury that restricted him in the pre-season and his intercept marking is ideal for the modern game.
If it is Scrimshaw, what Clarkson and co. must decide is whether they are comfortable with a back six where none of them is shorter than 189cm.
The other options are the exciting Jiath (185cm), Harry Morrison (180cm), first-round draft pick Will Day (189cm) or possibly rookie Damon Greaves (186cm).
