Finishing position 2015: Third on ladder (16-6) premiers

Players used: 36

Debutants: Kaiden Brand (round seven, v Richmond), Ryan Burton (round 21, v North Melbourne), Kade Stewart (round 11, v Melbourne), Kieran Lovell (round six, Greater Western Sydney), Marc Pittonet (round one, Geelong), Kurt Heatherley (round 20, Melbourne), Blake Hardwick (round 19, Carlton)

Retiring/delisted: There have yet to be any retirements or delistings, but the Hawks face some tough decisions. Brad Hill has indicated he wants to return home to Perth, with the Dockers leading that race, while Matt Spangher endured another injury-hit season and may not be offered another contract. Ryan Schoenmakers is contracted until the end of next season, but his best spot is still unclear and he again shapes as trade bait. The Hawks will secure Jaeger O'Meara through a trade with the Suns, but the Suns have said they want an established player in return. Young forward James Sicily, Luke Breust and Will Langford have been linked to that deal. The Hawks had seven debutants, but are they all a part of the club's immediate future? Billy Hartung has yet to solidify his spot, while Jono O'Rourke has failed to make an impression. Brendan Whitecross has triggered a clause in his contract allowing him to play on.

Outlook for 2017: The Hawks believe there is no reason why they cannot continue to challenge for their premiership core will remain intact, but potentially there is a problem. Sam Mitchell turns 34 in October, Shaun Burgoyne turns 34 in October, Josh Gibson will be 33 in March and Luke Hodge is 32. Will another year be one too many for those players? Expect three to retire at the end of next season. Gibson struggled towards the end of the home-and-away campaign and was a non-factor in the finals. They really missed having a blue-chip marking forward, having been forced to use a resting ruckman or Schoenmakers in that role. That didn't work, with so much left to the hard-running Gunston and their small forwards. When Cyril Rioli went quiet after half-time on Friday night, the Dogs took charge. Ty Vickery, who is leaving Richmond, could help fill that marking role up forward, provided the Hawks can eke the consistency out of him that was missing at Punt Road. Sydney hardnut Tom Mitchell, another to be linked to the Hawks, would add toughness in the middle, while O'Meara, provided he is fit and healthy, will provide the dynamic run and carry this team has missed. They are also a chance to secure Darren Jarman's son, Ben, under the father-son rule. It remains to be seen if Jarryd Roughead, who missed the entire 2016 campaign, first due to a knee injury, and then due to a recurrence of his melanoma, will return to the field next year. "He's had some effects with that [treatment], and that's what's made it tough," coach Alastair Clarkson said. "Whether it's to do with his weight or his appetite or the way that he's feeling, but he's had some positive results to some tests over the last four or five weeks that indicate that some of these drugs are doing some good work."

Make no mistake: How things would have been different had Isaac Smith not botched his set shot after the siren against the Cats, denying the Hawks of a week off and a home preliminary final. Regardless, they won't be fooled into thinking they are the juggernaut they once were. Clarkson, by renewing his deal until the end of 2019, knew this would involve the delicate task of ushering out legends of the club. That process may have been easier had at least one of their veteran core retired this year, ensuring there isn't a major hole when two or three leave at once, but all were doing well enough to trigger one-year extensions. The Hawks need help up forward and more outside run. They have shown they can rebuild on the run with shrewd recruiting but ultimately is there a fall coming, as happened to Geelong last year? Commentator Wayne Carey says there is no reason to think their grand era is over. While they will have plenty of room under the salary cap next year, it's hard not to think their aura, if nothing else, has lost its shine.

What the coach says: "It's been shown throughout the year that we just haven't played well enough … I don't think the percentage lies on the ladder too much. Our side has competed ferociously for a long, long period of time. What's happened over the last two weeks is not surprising. They're tough to win, finals. It's no good this losing caper. We're not used to it this time of year and it's a good habit to have, winning in September."

- Alastair Clarkson