Hawthorn is widely tipped for a bottom-four finish but selecting the best 23 was a difficult exercise, nonetheless.
Important players from last season either start on the bench or miss the team entirely, while some players who have reportedly trained superbly through the summer as well as highly-rated draftees who have also made a big impression, have also not been picked.
Sam Mitchell faces some serious selection headaches in the lead-up to Round 1.
Defenders
The Hawks are pretty well stacked in their back-half.
James Sicily should have been All-Australian last year and anchors the backline. James Blanck is the largest-bodied key defender they have and at this stage gets in ahead of Denver Grainger-Barras who must take the next step this year. Blake Hardwick is an underrated shutdown defender who can play small and tall.
The run starts from half-back. Changkuoth Jiath is one of the most exciting running defenders in the AFL, Sam Frost adds experience, muscle and dash, while Jack Scrimshaw can intercept mark and rebound, and is a beautiful kick.
Midfielders
Classy Port Adelaide recruit Karl Amon steps in and provides much-needed midfield run, while the exciting Will Day has been trialled further up the ground all summer. He gets picked here ahead of Harry Morrison who had an excellent 2022 and Lachie Bramble, who was recently labelled as “elite” by assistant coach Kade Simpson.
Jai Newcombe is now Hawthorn’s best midfielder and could soon be among the competition’s best if his progression continues as it has. James Worpel should benefit from Tom Mitchell’s departure and Dylan Moore is one of the most improved players in the competition and is now a bona fide midfielder rather than small forward.
Finn Maginness is the club’s best run-with midfielder and grew with confidence as an attacking weapon last season. He will play Round 1.
Draftees Cameron Mackenzie and Josh Weddle have earned rave reviews and may force their way into the midfield early in the season.
Lloyd Meek gets first crack at the ruck, marginally ahead of Ned Reeves. But both feature in this side.
Forwards
The biggest question mark over this side. Mitch Lewis is the clear No.1 key forward at Hawthorn but will not play until at least a month into the season because of injury. Jacob Koschitzke will take his place for the time being, but whether the Hawks can play him, Lewis and two rucks in the side is unclear and will need time to unfold.
The Hawks will miss the departed Jack Gunston but will hope former Bulldog Fergus Greene, who starred at Box Hill last season, can partly fill his void. Chad Wingard has been in cotton wool since last season’s mid-season bye but has trained brilliantly this summer. He brings the x-factor to this forward line.
Jarman Impey is also flying and can play forward or back, Luke Breust can still terrorise opposition backlines and Connor Macdonald should improve on his excellent debut season.
Tyler Brockman is the forgotten forward at Hawthorn; he misses out in this team after injury cruelled him all through last season. But he averaged a goal a game on debut in 2021 and has some tricks.
Conor Nash, Cooper Stephens, Sam Butler, Max Lynch and Emerson Jeka feature in the best 23s of many Hawthorn supporters and are also capable of playing Round 1. And given the open competition for so many positions at Hawthorn, they yet might.