Paying the bills of a flag dynasty

In a clever piece before the season, the SEN digital team divided the 18 AFL clubs into categories defined by what they were hoping to get out of the season.

Hawthorn was in a category all of its own. Whereas the rest of the competition was judged on whether they were in premiership contention or ready to play finals, the Hawks were rated solely that this is a development season – nothing more, nothing less.

Out at Bunjil Bagora, as their Waverley Park headquarters is now known, the growth and the development takes place during the week.

That is where coach Sam Mitchell and his team do their most important work.

Then comes the weekend when that progress, sometimes inconveniently, gets measured against other clubs.

The universal narrative entering the season was the Hawks had cut their list too deep by offloading Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara.

Jack Gunston also left for the Brisbane Lions via a trade, but in effect it was a free agency move.

Hawthorn people were sad to see them go – Gunston especially –but understood the time had come to strip back the playing list to fast-track the much-needed and long overdue rebuild.

What should have taken place at the end of 2016, when the bid for a four-peat ended with a straight-sets finals exit, was delayed for five years.

Mitchell had the complete support from everyone of the brown and gold persuasion for this course of action –inside and outside the club.

The expectation was their next generation of midfielders were ready to take the next step – and they have.

Will Day is on the fast-track towards becoming one of the best in the competition, Jai Newcombe continues to improve and James Worpel is nearly back to his best and fairest form of 2019 after a three-year slump.

The crash and bash of Conor Nash has added a new dimension and Ned Reeves is giving a good account of himself in the ruck.

The Hawks were the worst clearance team in the competition in 2022 but they now sit comfortably mid-table.

The rest of the ground remains a work in progress.

The forward line badly missed its No. 1 weapon – Mitchell Lewis – for the opening six weeks of the season and looks better for his return.

The backline, the most reliable for the Hawks last year given how regularly under siege it was, is underperforming and looked all at sea against Fremantle last week.

There are key Hawks who are down on form compared to last season.

Changkuoth Jiath, Dylan Moore and Chad Wingard are three who immediately come to mind.

Hawthorn’s 18th placing and 1-7 record doesn’t sit comfortably with supporters and their faith has been tested by some ordinary football, but they know how fortunate they were, and perhaps even spoiled, to witness a golden era only 10 years ago and understood that at some stage the bill for all that success would come due.

It’s just that former coach Alastair Clarkson tried to defer the repayments for as long as possible.

Hawthorn supporters will likely turn up in large numbers for the clash with Melbourne on Saturday evening for a couple of reasons.

The first is that, due to the quirky fixture, this is just the second MCG home game for the Hawks this year.

The second is they have bought what the club, and especially the coach, is selling, that it’s about winning flags and not just making finals – an approach that requires tough calls and plenty of patience.

It means coming to the football to watch the youngsters and dreaming a little while trying to disregard the scoreboard, as counterintuitive as that can be.

The Hawks likely won’t beat Melbourne and might not win too many more games for the season.

Their first wooden spoon in 58 years beckons, while the racism investigation and the spectre of leaving Tasmania also hover over the club.

Some commentators are falling over themselves to portray the Hawks as a club in crisis, perhaps even a rabble, yet their fans are engaged as ever, bubbling with excitement for the future.

It might be the most enjoyable bad season in AFL history.

@hashbrowne