When the AFL trade period begins next Monday, much attention will focus on Hawthorn as they seek to bridge the gap with other premiership contenders, particularly by addressing their midfield depth concerns.
The Hawks finished the home and away season with a strong 15-8 record and won two finals on the road, but their midfield struggles became increasingly apparent throughout the campaign.
The absence of star midfielder Will Day, who suffered two navicular injuries and missed his second consecutive finals series, exposed the team's lack of depth and dynamism through the middle.
During their 30-point preliminary final loss to eventual grand finalists Geelong, the Hawks were comprehensively outplayed in the midfield.
They struggled around clearances and stoppages against the Cats' bigger bodies and couldn't match the pace of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes.
Two weeks earlier, in the elimination final against GWS, similar issues emerged in the third quarter when Josh Kelly and Finn Callaghan dominated proceedings, helping the Giants claw back from a 42-point deficit as the Hawks found no answers through the middle of the ground.
These struggles weren't isolated to finals, with the Hawks consistently overpowered by better-equipped midfields throughout the season.
Teams including Gold Coast, Fremantle, Brisbane, GWS, and Geelong regularly dominated around the ball, exposing a glaring weakness in Hawthorn's system.
The statistics paint a concerning picture.
With the 6-6-6 rule emphasising the importance of centre clearances, the Hawks averaged just 11.3 per game, ranking 13th in the competition.
Their overall stoppage work ranked 10th, placing them below AFL averages in a crucial area that would have set alarm bells ringing at Waverley Park for Sam Mitchell and his football department.
The challenge will intensify with the expected departure of former best and fairest winner James Worpel to free agency, and Will Day likely to be deployed in different areas of the ground.
If the Hawks are to remain genuine premiership contenders in 2026, they must significantly improve their midfield unit, especially as rivals like grand finalist Brisbane continue adding potential stars, including potential top five pick and Academy prospect Dan Annable.
Hawthorn's strong interest in Melbourne's Christian Petracca and Essendon's Zach Merrett demonstrates Mitchell and his football department clearly recognise these deficiencies and want immediate rectification.
After two consecutive finals campaigns, the Hawks believe their premiership window is wide open and are prepared to act decisively.
Securing these high-calibre players won't be straightforward, as both remain contracted to their respective clubs.
However, Hawthorn's ruthless decision-making during trade periods shouldn't be underestimated.
The club has built its reputation over six decades on winning premierships rather than accepting mediocrity.
This approach has deep historical roots.
In 2001, Hawthorn traded exciting young key forward Trent Croad to Fremantle in exchange for Pick 1 in the National Draft, which they used to select Luke Hodge - a future club legend.
The decision exemplified the club's willingness to make bold moves for long-term success.
Since becoming head coach, Mitchell has maintained this tradition of making difficult list management decisions to drive improvement and compete for premiership flags rather than simply making finals appearances.
In his debut coaching season of 2022, he famously traded established midfielders Jaeger O'Meara and Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, prioritising the development of younger talent to suit his attacking game plan.
The 2023 season saw the Hawks focus on strengthening their forward structure, trading out Jacob Koschitzke and Brandon Ryan, while acquiring Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston, and Jack Ginnivan, plus drafting Nick Watson and Calsher Dear.
Following their elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs and narrow semi-final loss to Port Adelaide last year, Mitchell and his team - led by led by list manager Mark McKenzie and former teammate Jarryd Roughead, who oversees trade and free agency matters - targeted defensive reinforcement.
They successfully traded for West Coast's Tom Barrass and secured St Kilda's Josh Battle as a free agent before selecting young prospect Noah Mraz in the National Draft.
With both their forward line and backline now in excellent condition, the Hawks must address the middle of the ground to make the crucial leap from top four finisher to genuine premiership contender capable of claiming their 14th flag.
As the 2025 Trade Period promises to be massive by industry standards, the Hawks will undoubtedly be among the action.
Mitchell's relentless pursuit of excellence will continue this trade period as he looks to further shape a list capable of not just competing with premiership heavyweights like Brisbane and Geelong, but ultimately dethroning them in the quest to restore Hawthorn's premiership glory.
