Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson has conceded he is unsure how his side will fare in the upcoming season.

The Hawks squad takes on a new look this year, with four of its five oldest players in 2020 since departed. 

Speaking to SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning, Clarkson said he couldn’t get a handle on where his team would finish in 2021.

But Clarkson continued to say he was energised by the mystery of his team's ranking within the league.

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“My biggest challenge now is just trying to read – and I’m sure people in the wider football community are the same – exactly where Hawthorn’s at,” the four-time premiership coach said.

“(I’ll be) trying to determine the early part of this year just where we’re at as a footy club and our playing group, but I’m excited about the challenge and excited about the journey.

“This is the third wave of success we’re trying to have at the footy club in my time and I’m excited by what I’m seeing, albeit I’m still not certain until we start playing games against other clubs where that’s going to take us.”

Clarkson said last season's 15th place finish does not give him as solid an indication of future fortunes as some people might think. 

“At the start of last year, we were 3-1 with victories over Brisbane and Richmond.

"Everything was looking pretty good for our footy club in terms of being able to challenge in the latter stages of the year.

"From that point on we won two games for the rest of the year once we got into hub life."

Clarkson explained he had taken a more "hands on" approach at training this summer, adding he has been pleased with the players' pre-season application.

“Our boys have been training really well and we’ll just wait and see.

“All we know is that if we stay positive, have a good culture at our footy club and some good standard, who knows where footy can take you.”