Hawthorn co-captain Jai Newcombe has detailed how the club is better equipped for a premiership push this year compared to last year.
A top four finish has allowed the Hawks to manage the month of September better than the last two campaigns, where every week has been a high-octane do-or-die game, and those experiences have given the squad maturity for this season.
"Experience at that end of the year always helps. Understanding what it takes to win games at that time of the year," Newcombe said.
"More confidence within ourselves that we can perform, especially after going to Perth a couple of weeks ago, so a lot of confidence within ourselves that I don't think was as high last year."
Newcombe dismissed concerns about the Hawks' concerning 67-point loss to Brisbane in Round 22 at the Gabba.
Hawthorn drew with Collingwood in a high-quality game the following week before smashing the Eagles to secure a top four berth and then returning to Optus Stadium a fortnight later and doing a number on Fremantle.
"I think the lessons for us are similar to what they just got against Sydney (in their qualifying final)," Newcombe said.
"Weren't strong enough, outworked around the footy, a lot of those sort of things, a bit of an off weekend in a way, a bit of look in the mirror sort of stuff. They outclassed us completely there."
Newcombe also expressed complete faith that star All-Australian forward Nick Watson would perform after Lions defender Noah Answerth kept him goalless in that clash.
Answerth is expected to be fit to return in the preliminary final on Saturday after missing the semi-final with an ankle injury.
"He deals with a lot more than the rest of us do in the media in general," Newcombe added.
"He's been targeted at different times and been able to still perform well.
"It's hard to dominate every week. He was quiet last time; Noah did a fantastic job, so no doubt if he comes back, Wiz will be prepared for that. He has a lot of learnings out of last game, but it's exciting for him; he's got a fair few years of that ahead of him with how he's going.
Newcombe reflected on his growth as a leader in his first year as co-skipper.
Leading by action has been a focus for the tough 25-year-old who this year produced the best season by a Hawk since his coach Sam Mitchell in 2012.
"You don't need to overcomplicate it as much as what it seems on the outside," Newcombe said of leadership.
"You get to a position like this from the things you've already been doing, so it's just a continuation of that; there's just a title next to your name, is pretty much the way I've looked at it.
"I've got some good feedback along the way about just being able to stay who I was prior to the title and nothing changing, and it's something I thought would be important when given the role at the start of the year."
