Is this a season where an underdog comes from nowhere to win the flag? Kane Cornes thinks so.
Despite not being in his premiership calculations in the pre-season, the former Port Adelaide star believes Hawthorn are primed to make an assault at the silverware.
The Hawks finished ninth last season with 11 wins and 11 losses.
Speaking on SENโs The Captain's Run, Cornes explained that given the circumstances all clubs are faced with amid the coronavirus pandemic, Alastair Clarkson's men could thrive.
โWhile it wonโt look the same, thereโs a massive opportunity for one team to perhaps sneak a flag in,โ Cornes said.
โIf thereโs one team that I think can do it, itโs Hawthorn.
โI didnโt even have Hawthorn in my eight prior to this year. I just didnโt think it was setup for them.
โWith what is going on now, the way that they are setup, the coach that theyโve got, the playing group, I think Hawthorn can steal a premiership this year and what a story that would be.โ
He believes Clarkson would be working overtime during the shutdown to give his side the optimal preparation for what shapes as one of the most unconventional seasons we've ever seen.
โI think Clarko has had 10 or 11 weeks to plot a game plan. You think Clarkson isnโt going to come with something different?โ he said.
โWhen all these teams are playing wide down the boundary line like Richmond and Collingwood have been doing, playing it safe down the boundary, I reckon Clarko is going to come up with something that is innovative, that is more attacking.
โWins early will be crucial and I think they can do that and score on the board in the first quarter with these shorter quarters is going to be crucial and I just think the mature nature of the Hawthorn playing group, itโs not going to take them as long to get fit.
โIโm not saying theyโre going to win it, but theyโre going to be a big beneficiary of the uncertainty.
โI had them nowhere near a flag this year, but I reckon it has opened it up to some other clubs.โ
