HAWTHORN superstar Lance Franklin can join the ranks of the AFL's greats by continuing to work on bringing his teammates into the game.

That's the assessment of Hawks head of coaching and development Chris Fagan, who has given a review of every player on the club's list.

Fagan praised Franklin's 2012 season, in which the big forward missed six games with a hamstring strain but still booted 59 goals, while averaging 18.4 disposals and 3.7 tackles an outing.

The 25-year-old has achieved much in his 161-game career so far: four All Australian selections, two Coleman Medals, a club best and fairest and a premiership.

But Fagan said Franklin was still improving.

"Up until the point where he hurt his hamstring last year, he was having an outstanding year," Fagan said.

"He was leading the goalkicking, but he was also pretty high up in shot assists, and he was leading our pressure count.

"He has become a better all-around player.

"I think that's his challenge: as one of the superstars of the game, there's no doubting his ability to play the game, but what all the great players do is make the players around them better players by bringing them into the game.

"He took some good steps with that last season, and that's the thing that needs to keep growing next year."

Fagan said Hawks captain Luke Hodge would emerge a better leader from his frustrating 2012 season, which was marred by calf and knee injuries.

Hodge will spend much of summer recovering from post-season surgery on the knee, but Fagan had no doubt the midfielder could return to his best.

"It's going to be a steady build-up towards round one, [and] I think in a way that's a good thing," he said.

"There's no rush; we just want him to get right.

"It was a tremendously frustrating year for him this year with his injuries.

"I don't think he ever really got himself right, as much as he tried his heart out to get there.

"But I think he'll come out of it a better leader and a better person.

"He'll take a nice steady, gradual build-up towards the season, and we’re sure we'll have a fit and firing Luke Hodge at some point early in the season."

Fagan also said midfielder Brendan Whitecross' recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was progressing well, with the Queenslander a certainty to play next season.

And he said wingman Isaac Smith would be looking to improve, after his second year in the AFL didn't quite match the heights of his debut season.
Read Chris Fagan's assessment of every Hawthorn player here.
Follow Mark Macgugan on Twitter: @AFL_MarkM.