HAWTHORN will back itself to adjust to whatever weather conditions are thrown up on Saturday, dismissing any advantage Fremantle could hold in a wet Grand Final.
Isolated showers are forecast for Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, with the chance of a thunderstorm or hail in the morning.
Given the Hawks' strengths include tall goalkickers and precision ball-users, a wet Grand Final could suit the Dockers' high-pressure game style.
Two of Hawthorn's three losses this season came in wet or slippery conditions, but assistant coach Brett Ratten said the team would not be fazed by the conditions.
"Our form's been good throughout the season, so it won't change the way we want to play," he said.
"We do have the ability to change the way we want to play within games. That's a real strength of ours.
"We'll just combat whatever conditions are thrown at us.
"We've played in wet, dry, windy, so it doesn't matter."
Fellow assistant coach Brendon Bolton agreed, saying the Hawks had a "robust" game plan that had stood up in pressure games this year, both in wet and dry conditions.
He said he had noticed a "steely determination" in the players, who trained for the last time on Thursday afternoon in front of at least 5000 supporters at Waverley Park.
Bolton said the players were confident and desperate to make amends for last year's Grand Final loss to the Sydney Swans.
"We've played in some real big pressure games and our draw suggests we've played against big teams," he said.
"If we take the approach we've taken in those games, our pressure and ability to tackle will be as good as any."
The Hawks were set to give the good news to the player who will replace Brendan Whitecross within an hour of Thursday's session finishing, with Taylor Duryea, Jonathan Simpkin, Kyle Cheney and Jed Anderson in the mix.
Ratten said the match committee could select a tall or small player, given the team's flexibility.
"We can go either way and the player who does come in, we know is in good form," he said. "That's going to be really encouraging for that player.
"With our versatility, players have been able to play multiple roles, so there's real confidence going into this game that we don't have to go with just the one strategy or the one player in that position."
Ratten, who joined the Hawks this season as stoppage coach, said he had been impressed by the club's closeness and drive to win.
"You talk about the family club and the way the organisation gets together – it's really evident when you get here," the former Carlton coach said.
"They're so caring for each other, there's a lot of empathy and they're all driven to achieve the one thing.
"I've been very fortunate to come to Hawthorn and work with Alastair (Clarkson) and also have a look at a great club.
"I've learnt lot this year in my development."
