Hawks will be better without Buddy

That is the immense challenge for Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, one Geelong was able to tackle successfully when Gary Ablett left the club.

The story of Thursday night's AFL national draft was Dayle Garlett and the risk Hawthorn was prepared to take in recruiting junior football's resident problem child.

Yet as the dust settled on that dramatic selection, it didn't take long to think that Hawthorn might actually improve on its 2013 form.

Even without dual premiership hero Lance Franklin, at one stage a few years back clearly the best player in the game.

GARLETT: I WANT TO PLAY, NOT PLAY UP

For a moment move past the welfare and discipline issues Hawthorn will tackle with Garlett and consider what he might produce for Hawthorn next year.

If he isn't Cyril Rioli, he at least has the same exquisite package.

DRAFT TRACKER: EVERY PICK AND ANALYSIS

Break-neck pace, astounding goal smarts, and a perfect combination of attacking punch and midfield quality.

How about Hawthorn's small forwards next year with Rioli's magic, Luke Breust's hugely under-rated nose for a goal and Garlett's ability to change games in the attacking half.

Only next year will we find out if Jack Gunston (11 goals in three finals) can truly elevate to star status with the opposition's best defender alongside him, if David Hale can thrive in a role with more forward-50 action.

Yet the question of whether Hawthorn can win finals has already been answered this year, with Franklin's finals output modest at best.

Next year Ryan Schoenmakers returns to help Norm Smith Medallist Brian Lake and Crimmins Medallist Josh Gibson, and Matt Suckling should seamlessly slot into retiree Brent Guerra's half-back role.

And while Billy Hartung, taken at pick 24, will take time to find his feet, he is truly an endurance monster.

PICK ME: EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF HARTUNG IN ACTION

The Hawks think he will challenge Isaac Smith for running power, with Hartung having smashed Bradley Hill's 16.1 beep test draft camp record.

Hill had a super finals series himself and can take the next step, as can Jed Anderson, unlucky not to get a Grand Final call-up after a solid sub's performance early in the finals series.

Then there is Ben McEvoy.

His limitation is clear - he doesn't win enough hit-outs, or hit-outs to advantage.

But Hawks insiders yesterday were throwing up the example of Hale and Jarryd Roughead, who both get it done in the centre square without the leap of Nic Naitanui.

Much of that is testament to the ruck coaching of Damien Monkhorst, who will enhance McEvoy's body positioning and encourage him to charge forward to kick goals.

McEvoy almost never did that last year, kicking only seven goals to give him a tally of 27 from 91 games.

The midfield trio of Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell are another year older, but only Sewell has so far showed signs of fading form.

Back-to-back premierships are immensely hard to win.

But how many premiership teams have the ability to bring in a ruckman entering his prime, a teenage goalkicker with a massive upside, and two defenders from injury who are easily in the club's best 22?

Hawthorn lost just one game for the year apart from twin defeats against Geelong, a hoodoo itself broken in the preliminary final.

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