If you're a team, you've got to have one; a mascot is a defining part of a team's fandom and, in some cases, helps usher in a new wave of fans during their childhood. The idea behind them is to empower and believe it or not, they are still a representation of the club's image.

When I was a kid, I had a love for mascots and their image, whether it was waiting in line for a picture, collecting their footy cards or waiting till they made the journey around to the ground for a high-five and picture.

By using what's left of my childhood wonder, I set out to rank each club's mascot based on creativity, design and overall feel to see which ones in the league stand out as the best.

3Hawthorn Hawks - Hudson ‘Hawka' Knights

There's a lot of personality to this one and it's one of the few that has remained faithful to the cartoon version of the mascot. One of the best headpieces with the feathers layering down and eyes that give the Hawka a nonchalant way about him.

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