PAUL Puopolo is the little big man of Hawthorn's revamped forward line.

Puopolo's profile is about the same as his diminutive 173cm frame, but the small forward's stature at the Hawks is massive.

He has been one of the keys to Hawthorn not missing a beat in attack this year without Lance Franklin.

"Puopolo has probably been undercut a little bit in terms of how much he gets publicity-wise," said Hawks key forward Jarryd Roughead.

"But internally, I dare say he'll finish top five in the best and fairest.

"He's the ultimate team man - you ask him to do anything and he'll do it.

"There are the blokes who kick five or six each week, but half the time you probably see him block for those three or four blokes who get the goals.

"I love to play with him."

While losing Franklin to Sydney at the end of last season under free agency was a blow, Hawthorn were prepared.

They had a long-term plan to make their attack more multi-faceted and less reliant on any single player.

The All Australian team that was unveiled on Tuesday night showcased the success of their strategy.

Franklin headlined the forward line as the Coleman Medallist, but Roughead was there too and fellow Hawk Luke Breust earned his first All-Australian selection.

Midfielder Jordan Lewis completed the Hawks contingent in the honorary 22.

Roughead was the fourth-highest goalkicker with 64 and Breust and Jack Gunston were equal-seventh on 54.

No other club had more than one player in the top 10 goalkickers.

But Port Adelaide's defence will be a stern test for Roughead and his fellow Hawks forwards in the Saturday twilight preliminary final at the MCG.

While everyone focuses on the Power's breathtaking run, their coach Ken Hinkley repeatedly says that it starts with their solid backline.

"Their defensive six or seven have been settled most of the year," Roughead said.

"We just have to make sure we win it in the middle.

"If we do that, it gives us every chance to get a couple of kicks in the forward line."