Sam Mitchell's young Hawks went one better in 2025, featuring on preliminary final weekend, a year after infamously falling to Port Adelaide in a sudden-death semi.
It was a positive step for the men in brown and gold, who finished the home and away season in eighth. Ultimately, the Hawks were outclassed by longtime rivals Geelong, falling to the Cats by 30 when the lights were brightest.
Far be it to be satisfied with the first preliminary final appearance of his coaching tenure, Mitchell was forthright regarding his expectations in the immediate aftermath.
"The Hawthorn Football Club is not one that's built for preliminary finals. We're built to win premierships," Mitchell said, smarting at the manner of the defeat.
Star on the rise Josh Ward provided insight into what went wrong for his side on that night, as pre-season begins in earnest at the Hawks' newly christened Kennedy Community Centre.
"Mental skills, really," he said.
"Being able to do our job, and play our role under pressure. We've seen evidence of improvement on that, but like we saw in the prelim, there's times we need to be better as well. We'll be challenged in different ways over the preseason that'll try and build on that.
"It was a pretty ugly way to go out as a team and for me personally, so I have been thinking about that a fair bit in my running sessions, and when things get hard. That's why you do it - being able to perform when it matters. We did that in the first two finals but didn't in the last one. We know we're not good enough yet, and we've got a lot to improve on."
Ward claimed Most Improved honours at the Hawks' best and fairest, following a campaign in which he averaged career best numbers for contested possessions, clearances, score involvements and tackles. Ward's season was a microcosm of his side's, with the Fitzroy junior featuring in 16 wins in 2025 - equalling the total amount of victories he'd played in across his first three campaigns combined. Yet, Ward baulks at the notion that he's 'arrived' as a player.
"I feel like I've still got a long way to go as a player," he said.
"I think you never feel completely comfortable in the AFL, and I'm definitely taking that mindset that I've got a lot to prove and get better at this year. Being able to contribute and play my role last year gives me some confidence going into next year."
The Hawks made a highly-publicised and unsuccessful ploy for Essendon skipper Zach Merrett in the off-season, but Ward believes there's enough talent on the list as it's presently constructed to continue their trajectory towards the club's sixth flag in the AFL era.
"If you watched Box Hill last year, there were some really strong and consistent performers. Henry Hustwaite is looking unbelievable at the moment - he did absolutely nothing wrong last year. There's a lot of depth in the midfield.
"Obviously Zach Merrett is an unbelievable player but we moved on pretty quickly. It's an exciting opportunity for some younger players to step up, but again we've got great midfielders."
One of those great midfielders is Will Day, who, as is unfortunately his custom, missed a large chunk of the 2025 campaign with a stress fracture in his foot. Ward is one of many buoyed by the prospect of a return for the damaging 'Daysy', crediting him as one of the many leaders who've contributed to his growth in four years at Hawthorn.
"He's on a bit of a modified program at the moment, but he's looking strong and fit, and I'm excited to see him back to his best this year," Ward said.
"I've been lucky to have such great leaders. Ben McEvoy, Liam Shiels, 'Moorey', 'Daysy' and 'Gunners' have all driven standards in my time here. That's just our club. Everyone's ready to work and excited to be back. The older boys really lead by example with their passion and drive. It's really something for the young boys to channel.
"Everyone's got a lot of energy coming back, especially being at this new facility. It's very exciting, and I definitely feel that from everyone. It just feels great coming into work; we enjoy being around each other, and being back playing footy. We'd train anywhere."
The Hawks selected four players in the National Draft, including three prospects (Cam Nairn, Aidan Schubert and Matt LeRay) from a strong South Australian side. Sandringham Dragons product Jack Dalton rounds out the quartet, and Ward has been impressed with the seamless nature of the transition these draftees have made to AFL life.
"They've been looking great, and looking pretty comfortable," he said.
"(They were) less nervous than I was on my first day. I got out of my car, and forgot to take my keys out of it, and left my car running all day. They're looking pretty cool, calm and collected and they're training well - Jack was dominating the running, Aidan's got some nice hands; they've all brought something."
Ward spent four weeks abroad in his off-season, with 18 holes at the famed St. Andrews golf course, a highlight. Upon his return to Australian shores, his attention swiftly returned to football, with he and his teammates beginning a gruelling pre-season in the lead up to an Opening Round clash with GWS, on March 7.
