After defeating premiership fancies Sydney on Saturday, the Hawks face another premiership contender, West Coast at the MCG on Friday night.
Whitecross believes facing fellow finals hopefuls heading into the pointy end of the season is the ideal preparation for what is to come in September - tough, hard, contested footy.
“Our last month has been pretty good as far as the opposition goes - it’s really setting us up for finals footy,” Whitecross exclusively told hawthornfc.com.au
“You always like to challenge yourself against the best in the competition.
“Being able to do that going into finals is the best scenario for us.”
The ability to learn, make adjustments and gain experience adds to the preparation for the Hawhs’ finals assault.
“You learn things from the bigger games, not saying you don’t from the lesser games but when you’re playing against the top sides it puts your structures and game plan to good practice,” Whitecross said.
“You find out what works and what doesn’t.
“It’s good to address those now, rather than in finals.”
A win against the Eagles on Friday night guarantees the Hawks its first minor premiership since 1989 - a year in which the Hawks went on to secure its eighth premiership.
While securing the McClelland Trophy as the 2012 minor premiers isn’t at the forefront of the minds of the playing group, Whitecross says it’s an added incentive to secure the Club’s 17th win of the season.
“Finishing top sets you up for the finals with home finals, but it’s not at the forefront of your mind,” he said.
“It’s always a nice thing to finish on top, but you just want to win as many games as you can.
“It is a nice incentive though, coming into the end of the season.”
That doesn’t mean though, that the Hawks don’t want top spot.
“Top spot is there to be taken, show me any side in the competition that doesn’t want it,” Whitecross said.
With top spot comes a guaranteed home final in the first week of Septemeber, a key ingredient to any side’s chances of featuring deep into September.
“It’s always a tough task when you travel interstate, if you have to travel interstate and play West Coast over in Perth or Adelaide in Adelaide or Sydney in Sydney,” Whitecross said.
“You’re always up against it, with the crowd and the noise.
“Being able to play in front of your home crowd and on the home deck is certainly going to be something we want to do.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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