In the off season, the Club recruited players and personnel it believes will make a difference in 2013.

Brett Ratten was recruited as an assistant coach, a man who has a wealth of experience and knowledge gained from having over 20 years experience in the game.

Full back Brian Lake traded into the Club in October last year to strengthen the backline, to help Ryan Schoenmakers and Josh Gibson who, at times,  were undersized in defence against big bodied forwards last season.

Then, there was the youngsters brought into the Club via the AFL draft, players who add to the Club’s depth of talent.

In the video, “The Difference”, Ratten, Lake and draftee Tim O’Brien represent what Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson believes will be the difference for Hawthorn as it strives to achieve success in 2013.

Clarkson describes the year as a challenging one for the Club, given it is coming off a Grand Final loss to Sydney.

He believes, however, Ratten, Lake and the young recruits could be the difference this season, acknowledging the Club can’t stand still and play in the same way it did in 2012.

“There’s plenty of motivation to try and go one step further in season 2013,” Clarkson says in the video.

“We’ve got some changes in personnel at coaching level with Brett Ratten coming in, obviously he’s got a wealth of experience…that’s a great addition to our coaching team.

“You’ve got the inclusion of some younger guys, 18 or 19 years olds we picked up in the National Draft.

“We’ve traded as well in terms of getting a couple of older guys in Lake and (Matt) Spangher who’ll gives us some great support in the back end.”

Ratten hopes he can add “something different” to the coaching group in 2013.

“Some different views, I think sometimes it’s about stimulating the players with a different voice, different tactics, different philosophies,” he said.

“We know in this game if you stand still, it passes you by.”

Lake’s motivation for joining the Club is simple.

“Hawthorn needed a key defender, and I want to win a premiership.

“I want to help a side reach the ultimate glory…with Hawthorn being so close right now, I can help them make a difference.”

Watch “The Difference” in the video player above.

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