WHEN Hawthorn lured defender Josh Gibson away from North Melbourne at end of 2009, it was seen as a shrewd piece of recruiting.

Hawthorn's premiership defence never really got going that year and a contributing factor was Trent Croad's inability to overcome the foot injury he suffered in previous year's Grand Final, and a knee injury to full-back Stephen Gilham that kept him to just 10 games.

Hawthorn's back half was ripe to be plundered in 2009 and so it proved to be.

The pairing of Gilham and Gibson in 2010 was supposed to fix all that, but in the two and a half seasons since, there has been more frustration. Gibson sheared his hamstring off the bone just three games into his maiden Hawthorn season and missed half of the year.

Gibson only returned to full fitness last year, but then seven weeks into 2011, Gilham tore his ACL and didn't return to the side for a year.

A back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that Hawk coach Alastair Clarkson has had his two first choice key defenders at his disposal on just 21 of 53 possible occasions since the start of 2010.

But when they both play, the Hawks win considerably more than they lose.

Click here for Gibson's career stats

There have been justifiable concerns over the Hawthorn backline the past few seasons, but the figures in 2012 would suggest that a perceived weakness might be actually be a strength.

In their eight games so far in 2012, the Hawks have conceded 648 points - the fourth lowest in the competition and behind only the Sydney Swans, West Coast and Fremantle. And with the exception of Melbourne, the teams Hawthorn has faced so far this year currently sit between first and 10th on the ladder.

It is a pleasing set of numbers for those at Hawks headquarters.

Gilham's return over the last fortnight has stiffened the backline considerably. His decision-making is first-rate and his disposal is invariably sound.

Click here for Gilham's career stats

With Gilham and Ryan Schoenmakers taking the two biggest forwards and Gibson there as the third man up or to peel the ball off to runners such as Brent Guerra, Grant Birchall, Shaun Burgoyne and Matt Suckling, Clarkson finally has at his disposal the defensive weapons to execute the high-possession, precision-kicking game he believes can take the team deep into September.

The Hawks also seem to have addressed their clearance issues following the debacle against the Swans in round five. Clinton Young and Isaac Smith have added run and carry to the flanks and Clarkson's fervent wish for the scoring to be shared around seems to have been realised with Lance Franklin contributing just one of 17 goals on Saturday against Fremantle.

With skipper Luke Hodge and Max Bailey still to return to the side and the likes of Jack Gunston (seven goals for Box Hill on Saturday), Xavier Ellis and Tom Murphy and banging on the door for selection, the Hawks are now at least starting to resemble the side that was strong favourite for the premiership entering the season and that once again this week sits comfortably atop the betting markets for the flag.

On the flip side, until Hawthorn reverses its disturbing trend of losing close games, a propensity to take the foot off the pedal in the third quarter, and proves it can handle the likes of hulking forwards such as Geelong's Tom Hawkins and Collingwood's Travis Cloke, there will continued - and justified - skepticism about whether that flag favouritism is actually warranted.

You can follow AFL media senior writer Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne
 
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL