Despite the loss of two of their most senior players people should not expect a drastic drop-off by Hawthorn in 2017, says Rohan Connolly.
The Age football writer believes the tendency to radically rise or fall down the ladder simply isn’t the same as it previously used to be.
“I’m certainly of the view I don’t think Hawthorn is going to slide by any means,” Connolly said on SEN Afternoons.
“I’m sure there will be people who tip them outside the eight, but I don’t think footy works like that much these days. The tendency to rise dramatically, or fall dramatically isn’t what it was.
“They’ve lost two great players in (Sam) Mitchell and (Jordan) Lewis, however they’ve brought in two pretty handy midfield replacements in the other Mitchell (Tom) and Jaeger O’Meara.
“O’Meara looked in ripping nick (at training today).”
Connolly says while the Hawks scoring output dropped late in the season there is enough talent amongst the ranks to keep the club competitive.
“I think they need something else in that forward setup. By the end of last year they did slip in scoring from first to sixth.
“The small forwards are damaging, but it does become a bit of a one trick pony.
“I guess the likes of (James) Sicily and (Tim) O’Brien are two of up to seven or eight players who I think are all going to need to really go to another level, but I’d be confident they would.
“I just think there’s enough talent on that list still to be a key player in 2017.”
Click here to view SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings for EVERY Hawthorn player.
Bulldogs have big scope up forward
Despite being the Premiers, Connolly believes the Western Bulldogs can become an even better team through the likes of Travis Cloke joining and Stewart Crameri returning from suspension.
“The thing I reckon has the most scope for further improvement for them is the forward setup.
"(Travis) Cloke you’ve got a genuine power forward and Cloke just strikes me as the archetypal player where a change of environment could see him really get back to his best.
"You’ve got (Jack) Redpath who will come back two-thirds of the way through the year.
"(Stewart) Crameri not just coming back on his own terms, but coming back not having to be such a key forward if Cloke’s there…as a third tall, which they would want him to play."
Click here to view SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings for EVERY Western Bulldogs player.