HAWTHORN dynamo Paul Puopolo says the pain of this year's three-point preliminary final loss will be a reminder to always do the "little bit extra" in 2012.

The Hawks were devastated after surrendering a 17-point three-quarter-time lead and crashing out of the 2011 premiership race at the hands of Collingwood.

As he prepared to set off with a group of nine other players, plus a number of officials and sponsors, on the club's fourth trek along the Kokoda Trail, the 23-year-old said the hurt was yet to completely subside.

"It would have been great to play in a Grand Final in your first year," Puopolo told hawthornfc.com.au on Thursday.
 
"It was a bitter, empty feeling.

"We were that close to a Grand Final, and maybe there was just that little bit extra that we could have done, and we could have been there."

The small defender said the defeat had driven home a critical lesson about the importance of hard work and preparation.

"Every little thing you've tried to work on during the year is saved for that moment," he said.

"It does pay off if you do the right things, because those little mistakes can become something big."

Despite how it ended, Puopolo could be well satisfied with his personal achievements in an impressive debut season.

Recruited from SANFL club Norwood in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, the 23-year-old set himself to play 10 senior games.

He eventually doubled that mark - appearing in 20 matches - and an excellent finals series cemented his hold on the Hawks' best first year player award (edging out Isaac Smith).

The South Australian is confident that his second year at the top level will see further improvement, particularly with the benefits of a full pre-season.

"[Last year] I had to catch up with the fitness side," he said.

"I was a little bit behind in that, especially coming in a bit later.

"This year I think if I can do all the right things, I'll hopefully improve, and I really want to improve.

"I just want to have a good year of AFL footy, get a full year in, and then hopefully play finals and play in a Grand Final."

Hawthorn's new season will open in the most testing fashion possible, with clashes against the Magpies and Geelong in rounds one and two.

Puopolo welcomed the challenge.

"It's a good start," he said.

"We'll see where we're at straight away.

"If we do the hard work it'll pay off. We know it will."

Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawks news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan.