After a stirring run that culminated in a semi-final in 2024, many pundits were wondering whether Hawthorn could handle the expectation that comes with winning.
The answer, so far, is a resounding ‘yes’.
The Hawks’ 10.16 (76) to 9.10 (64) victory over a highly rated GWS side in a windy Launceston on Saturday night kept their unbeaten start to the season rolling after four matches.
It is the first time the club has gone 4-0 since 2014 when they won the second of three premierships in a row.
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley praised Hawthorn’s mature start to the season.
“I was concerned about the expectation coming in this year off the back half of last year,” he told FoxSports.
“But they’ve handled that with aplomb.
“They haven’t worried about the past or what’s coming, they’re just dealing with the moment.
“Rarely have they been bested. And when they have, they’ve found a way through it.”
Hawthorn trailed 37-2 against the Giants at quarter time but rallied before scoring four straight third-term goals into the breeze to break the back of the opposition.
They had nine goal scorers, with only veteran Jack Gunston reaching double digits.
It has been a remarkable turn of form for the team, who are now among the premiership favourites after a 0-5 start to 2024 and a 16th-place finish in 2023.
“Last year we really wanted to be a club that could be more competitive more often and be in winning positions much more often,” Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said.
“This year we’ve been able to handle momentum. (GWS) kicked the first five (goals) but the players handled that well.
“They’ve got this belief that if we work hard on something, we’ll see improvement. They’re seeing some rewards.”
Mitchell indicated he was keeping a lid on any external hype.
“The expectation that we’re concerned about is our own and making sure we’re playing in a manner that we can be proud of, and our fans can be proud of,” he said.
“We just want to make sure we impress the people we work with, their opinions really matter the most to us.”