SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 30: Hawks players show their dejection as they leave the field during the round six AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Hawthorn Hawks at Spotless Stadium on April 30, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall says the Hawks cannot win a historic fourth consecutive flag.
The Hawks are currently 4-2 after the opening six rounds and suffered a thumping 75-point loss to GWS at Startrack Oval on the weekend, prompting Dunstall to declare the Hawks' premiership dominance over.
“I think they’ll play finals this year but I can’t have them in my premiership considerations,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch on Monday night.
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“They’re getting soundly outplayed. Last year they started the year 3-3 at a percentage just under 140.
“They’re 4-2 with a percentage of 91.
“There are a lot of issues underneath that ... and Alistair Clarkson’s been very open in saying the last few weeks that they’ve been lucky to win.
“He knows there’s problems, they are battling.”
Dunstall also criticised Hawthorn's reliance on former skipper Sam Mitchell.
“They’re not even getting close to winning their share of contested possession," he said.
“The midfield is under all sorts of pressure, Sam Mitchell is battling one-out there at the moment and you can’t expect one bloke to carry a midfield, there’s got to be six or seven of them running through there.”
Hawthorn take on Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.