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1) Roughead moving out of Buddy's shadow
For all the discussion and debate about Lance Franklin's potential departure to GWS for the 2014 season, much more of the conversation should have related to whether he's actually as valuable to the Hawks as Jarryd Roughead. The forward had arguably his most consistent season in 2013, booting three goals or more in 13 of his 24 games (70 for the season so far) and further establishing himself as the competition's most versatile big man. He does all of this with a minimum of fuss or fanfare and I get the sense if you asked the supporters of opposition clubs which of Franklin or Roughead they'd like to steal away for their own side, the latter would now get the lion's share of votes.
It's true that Roughy was average in last year's finals series and actually dire in the grand final, but in what could be his last game beside his twin forward tower, he could rewrite his own history on the grandest stage. It's one thing to stop Roughead or Franklin, but barely any defence is likely to curb the influence of both. If Franklin does depart the Hawks at the end of the season, it will be interesting to see how Roughead handles not only the increased defensive attention, but the associated pressures of being the Hawk's main man in attack. For Roughead to poll 13 Brownlow votes this year was no mean feat either, you could count the amount of key-position players who did so on one hand and still have a few digits spare.
2) Constantly topping up their depth
In some respects it's a lot easier to build a premiership-contending side full of high draft picks than it is to keep that list chugging along with canny top-ups and well-timed trades. Since their surprise success of 2008 the Hawks have weathered a few storms, but they've also done well to add high-value acquisitions to their list. Being a perennial contender has turned into a self-perpetuating cycle where disgruntled opposition players find a switch to the Hawks an appealing prospect in the twilight of their careers. Accordingly, in have come top-tier players Josh Gibson, David Hale, Shaun Burgoyne and Brian Lake. The Hawks have also had less headline-worthy returns from overlooked rookie-listed players such as Matt Suckling, Luke Breust and Jonathan Simpkin.
Of particular interest to other clubs is the way that the Hawks have added significantly to their list with late picks in the National Draft, becoming experts at unearthing gems in the second round and beyond. Ben Stratton (pick 46), Bradley Hill (33), Liam Shiels (34), Brendan Whitecross (29), Shane Savage (75), Paul Puopolo (66) and Taylor Duryea (69) have all become important senior players, making a mockery of some earlier picks and providing bargain-priced depth to the Hawks' squad.
3) Pressure for spots keeps everyone sharp
How much depth does Hawthorn have? In Round 16 they were able to unsentimentally drop veteran midfielder Brad Sewell. It sent a message that no out-of-form player would get an easy ride, no matter what his credentials.
As deep as Alistair Clarkson's faith is in his core group of senior players, reputations count for nothing when it comes to the crunch. The Hawks make the hard calls when they need to and have been able to draw upon a reliable, match-hardened crew of second-stringers from their premiership-winning VFL team. It's a blueprint similar to that undertaken by many other clubs obviously, but few execute it as well as the Hawks.
What this means is that a solid 'secondary unit' of players are ready to go once their name is called. Back-up players Matthew Spangher, Jed Anderson, Shane Savage and Sam Grimley are not just passengers and have all stepped up when required. Sewell explained this depth during the week in noting, "Guys have been able to play in a number of positions and that flexibility has allowed us to shift guys around." It makes countering injuries and absences a lot easier for the Hawks; when one goes out, a very capable replacement will fill the void.
4) Strong leadership
Like the Geelong sides of the last half-decade, the bedrock of Hawthorn's sustained success is the strong identity forged by the leaders within the club. Alistair Clarkson has an aura of authority that cannot be underestimated. He stood up to and outlasted former president Jeff Kennett and he'll stare down all comers within and beyond the club's walls to get the results he's after. Unlike certain other high profile coaches, he also manages to display a touch of humanity and humour every now and then too. If the speculation that he's heading west at season's end proves to be true – speculation that he denies – it could be a far greater personnel void to fill than that marauding full-forward.
On the field the Hawks have been served well by the captain's captain, the courageous and intimidating Luke Hodge. It's amazing that a player of Hodge's relatively slight frame should acquire such a fearsome and respected position amongst the competition's playing ranks, but he has that unquantifiable recklessness and ruthlessness that binds a team together. The Hawks walk taller with Hodge at the helm, whereas Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis lead by example. None are especially flashy or eye-catching, but opposition midfields must dread facing this band of brothers, and they rarely concede an inch.
5) Success begets success
It may chafe on opposition supporters but rather than breeding a sense of complacency, Hawthorn's countless triumphs of the last four decades have established a culture in which winning is the only thing that matters. What price can you put on the impact of players walking past overflowing trophy cabinets when they arrive at training? Matthews, Brereton, Dunstall and Tuck are not just the names of some old blokes on locker doors, they're the spirit and attitude of a club that demands the best. They're part of the Hawthorn premiership players club; are you doing enough to join them in eternity?
Watching the wonderful Final Story documentary on Hawthorn's six-point win in the great grand final of 1989 and one thing is striking: for the losing Geelong players there remains an endless sense of grief and sadness that they couldn't get over the line on that day 24 years ago. Counter to this the Hawks players weren't arrogantly gloating of their heroics, of just another premiership win in a sea of others, they were brought to tears by what it meant to be part of that team and of their club's proud history. They felt they were all united in something truly special and they were right. It's something sacred and profound that lives within the walls of that club, something that no amount of draft picks, big-name recruits or football department splurges could buy.
Football clubs pay lip service to the attainment of a winning culture, the Hawks just live and breathe it.
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