MATTHEW Suckling says Hawthorn's quest for back-to-back flags is being driven by a band of hungry Hawks who are yet to taste premiership success.
Suckling is one of three Hawks who missed last year's flag after suffering season-ending ACL injuries.
The damaging half-back flanker, Ryan Schoenmakers and Brendan Whitecross were all forced to watch last year's 15-point Grand Final triumph over Fremantle from the sidelines and are desperate to be fit for another flag tilt this September.
Add in a new breed of emerging Hawks - led by Kyle Cheney, Will Langford and Taylor Duryea - and it's clear to see why there's pressure to perform each week at Hawthorn.
"I suppose after the premiership last year there could have been a tendency to drop off, but there's plenty of blokes who missed out last year and they're fighting and they want to get one," Suckling told AFL.com.au.
"It puts a lot of pressure on and makes for healthy competition.
"Going into a game you know you've got to get a kick or you might be back to Box Hill, so that's probably promoting good performances from everyone in the team.
"I certainly know every time I go out there I have to play well to keep my spot, so it's good having that depth, it puts pressure on everyone."
That pressure has worked to the undefeated Hawks and Suckling's benefit after three rounds of the home and away season.
The 25-year-old returned in the NAB Challenge after missing all of last season and has taken no time to find top form - averaging 22 touches and better than a goal a game.
"I'm just happy to be back out there and running around with the boys again," Suckling said.
"As far as the knee goes, I've got full confidence, I'm not thinking about it anymore.
"I suppose the first couple of NAB Challenge games I was having a bit of a think about it, but now I'm just away and playing footy, which is great."
Suckling was outstanding in the Hawks' 58-point flogging of the Dockers last Friday night, collecting 30 touches and booting a goal.
The booming left-footer will be one of coach Alastair Clarkson's key weapons when the Hawks fly north to take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium this Saturday night.
"They’ve improved a lot over the last couple of years and they've started to develop into a really good side," Suckling said of the Suns, who have won both starts at home this season.
"I think we've seen so far how well they do play at home. They're so tough to beat up there, so we'll have to be right on top of our game."
Suckling echoed teammate Isaac Smith's comments that the Hawks – or any club – can't stop superstar Gary Ablett.
"He's a star, he's captain of my Supercoach team every week so it's good," Suckling joked.
"But I suppose from our point-of-view he's going to get the footy a lot but just limiting the impact he has with it.
"So if he's getting the ball in the back half and kicking short, we're happy with that, but if he's running forward over the 50m line and kicking goals it's probably going to hurt us."
Gold Coast has never beaten Hawthorn in four clashes, but pushed the Hawks to nine points the only time the teams have met at Metricon in round 24, 2011.
