Hawthorn face another tough challenge this week against the Adelaide Crows in their last game before the mid-season bye, knowing that they will need to be at their best against a Crows side who knocked off reigning Premiers Brisbane in a nail-biter last weekend.
The Hawks, who are coming off a 22-point victory against fellow contenders the Western Bulldogs, know that they will need to bring the same intensity and pressure as last week in the hopes of knocking off a top 4 contender.
"Adelaide have been very potent, early in the season, every was raving about their offensive potency, but they've really rounded their game out nicely", said head coach Sam Mitchell before the Hawks' main training session at Waverley Park.
"We had a lot of trouble with Brisbane a couple of weeks ago, and they were able to get the job done last week against them.
"We've looked at their game, they're a very, very good pressure side, very good in front of goal, but also defending well.
"They're pretty well-rounded in the way that they play, and we're going to have to be our best."
Mitchell was pleased with the bounce back in terms of pressure and effort from the Hawthorn players, who had lost convincingly against the Magpies in round 11 before their strong win against the Dogs last Thursday evening.
"Full credit to them (the players), they knew the amount of pressure we put on both Brisbane and Collingwood in the weeks before that, you know, we're not going to compete against the very best.
"It's a little bit similar to Adelaide this week. A team that's going really, really well and now we know that to get the job done against them, we need to do the basics well.
"We need to be able to bring a game for 4 full quarters that will trouble them. That's clear, and our focus is very clear and precise.
"Last week doesn't help us this week, so we need to renew our vows and go again."
Adelaide's key forward trio of Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Taylor Walker have combined for 76 goals this weekend and will be a big handful for the Hawks defensive unit with Tom Barrass, Josh Battle and Josh Weddle likely to be given the roles in nullifying the Crows talls.
Mitchell knows that while the Hawks match up well on the Adelaide forward line on paper, it will be another test when they run out onto the UTAS Stadium deck on Friday evening.
"They've played the three talls and looked super potent of the ball.
"They've got a potent front half, and if (the ball) hits the ground, they've got some pretty dangerous smalls as well.
"When you look at our backline, we are reasonably well set for them on paper, but it's a bit of a challenge playing them because the game is not played on paper.
"Big Tom Barrass gives us a bit of safety for the genuine talls, and both Josh's, Weddle and Battle, are able to play on the more mobile talls that run around a bit more.
"We feel match up not too badly against them, but it will all come down to the contest.
The Hawks have two key players who are likely inclusions for the massive clash on Friday evening, with both small forward Nick Watson and important defender Jack Scrimshaw training well during the session after missing last week's victory through injury.
James Worpel, who was listed as a test on the Hawks' injury list on Tuesday evening with a severe corked thigh, did not train with the main group.
Worpel, who is out of contract at the end of the year, walked gingerly down the stairs of Bunjil Bagora in his runners, before watching the squad undertake the main training session.
Mitchell stated that the Hawks likely won't be unchanged for the game, with the Hawks looking to take their record to 9-5 before their mid-season break.
"We'll have match committee this afternoon and get pretty close to the side by then.
"I wouldn't expect it is going to be 5 changes, but I think there'll be some."
The Hawks play their first Friday night game in Tassie in the week where there has been a lot of discussion about the proposed stadium to be built for the AFL's 19th Franchise in the Tasmanian Devils.
"We love going down there, and obviously is a really happy environment for us, a comfortable environment.
"It's the first ever Friday night game there, so that's something new for the state, and I'm really excited to get down there and have the game.
"There's been a lot of talk with the political stuff in Tassie at the moment, but very happy for us to get down there and be able to play on what is a very comfortable environment for us."
Hawks skipper James Sicily, young forward Calsher Dear and small defender Bodie Ryan walked laps during the main session, while star midfielder Will Day continued his rehabilitation from surgery on his broken navicular, running and kicking a ball away from the main group.
Key forward Mitchell Lewis continued his integration into the main training session, taking part in the match simulation as he nears a return to VFL football in the next fortnight.
The Hawks clash against the Crows shapes as a massive game for both sides' finals hopes as they approach their mid-season bye in round 15.
