BRENT Guerra is just one of a number of Hawks to have spent time at Port Adelaide before pursuing their careers at Waverley.

Stephan Gilham and Stuart Dew were Power players before they were Hawks while the coaching department also has its Alberton influences -- forwards coach Damien Hardwick finished his playing days there, while coach Alastair Clarkson was at the helm of Central Districts, taking them to a premiership in 2001, before taking on a role as assistant coach with the seniors.

However Guerra’s time in Adelaide, and particularly under the stewardship of Clarkson at Central District, has shaped his career more than most Having been delisted by St Kilda at the end of the 2005 season, he was reunited with his former coach when the Hawks handed him a career lifeline. As far as he’s concerned there’s no doubting the fact that under Alastair Clarkson, he has played the best football of his career.

“I won three Premierships with Centrals and one of those was under Clarko,” Guerra says.

“I played in defence for them but when I came over to St Kilda they put me straight into the forward line where I played some good games but I certainly wasn’t consistent… Clarko knew I could play in defence and he gave me that opportunity when I came here so it’s the best footy I’ve played.”

Guerra puts his emergence as one of the Hawks' most consistent players down to much more than positioning or tactics. He credits the reinvigoration of his career to his relationship with Clarkson.

“When I was at St Kilda I spoke to Grant Thomas but at Port Adelaide I hardly ever spoke to Mark Williams. I just didn’t feel comfortable talking to him. You get on so much better with a coach when you can talk to them about football but also other things outside of that.

The best thing about Clarko is that he’s so easy to get on with. You can have a joke around with him. He’s like one of the boys sometimes. Clarko’s one of the best coaches I’ve had.”

Another of the Power’s former stars is playing an even more significant role at Waverley of late, with 2004 Premiership medalist Stuart Dew invited into to the Hawks' leadership group meetings in the run into finals.

“They’ve asked him in the leadership group meetings over the past few weeks just to give some advice about finals footy and how to go about things. He’ll be important for the next few weeks for us … Dewy’s our only premiership medalist so it’s good to have him in there.”

However before finals kick in, the Hawks have one outstanding piece of business to attend to: Buddy’s ton. The Hawks' forward is only two goals of the century and Guerra says being on the field for Fraser Gehrig’s 100th goal with the Saints in 2004 has given him an insight on how to deal with a possible field invasion.

“I’ve got a couple of mates who are going to run straight to me so I’m more worried about what they’re going to do,” he laughs.

“It will be great for Buddy to kick a hundred. I played in the game when Fraser Gehrig kicked a hundred in the final against Port Adelaide and that probably wrecked the game with everybody running on, so I’m glad that Buddy’s going to kick his in the home and away season.”

At only 26 years of age it’s hard to believe that Guerra is one of the playing group’s more senior members. Despite the fact that the group is close, he can see generational differences with the squad's younger players.

“When I first came into the game, I’d sit in the corner and keep to myself. I was only confident enough to talk to the boys that were in the same draft year as me or a year older. These days the young boys are a lot more confident.”

The defender insists that confidence isn’t the only difference. According to him, Waverley’s young contingent are quite image conscious. However, he admits that there is a more senior influence on the team who is leading the Hawks’ metrosexual trend.

“Trent Croad has really led the way in that respect. He certainly looks after himself. He does a lot of photo shoots so he’s good at advising the younger players about that aspect of things.

"He ensures that he’s always got the perfect tan by going to the solarium or getting a spray tan, and I know a few of the younger guys are following his lead. They do take a lot of pride in their appearance,” he laughs.