It’s been a big couple of weeks for Hawthorn, who are coming off two wins in a row, and there's plenty of news out of the Hawks nest ahead of Saturday’s big clash.
The tide has turned for the Hawks through the middle part of the season with their poor form in the opening rounds a distant memory as they’ve gone on to knock off Adelaide at home and then Collingwood over the past fortnight.
They’re also the only team to beat the Swans in the past eight weeks as the GIANTS’ cross-town rivals have gone on to have a resurgence of their own.
There was plenty of positivity coming out of the Hawks’ camp this week with external suggestions they may still make finals, despite sitting in 13th on the AFL ladder at 6-8.
"The reality is we're still fairly close to the bottom of the ladder," said ruckman Ben McEvoy in his press conference on Monday morning.
"You've just got to keep doing what you can to win. It's a very unique season, possibly the most open season ever so we won't put a ceiling on it yet.
"But we've still got a fair bit of improvement ahead of us.”
Coach Alistair Clarkson was more measured when assessing his side but positive about the youth coming through.
Second-year defender Ryan Burton continues to impress as a 20-year-old, while Blake Hardwick, James Sicily, Kaiden Brand and Tim O'Brien again showed promise on the weekend against Collingwood.
"We're trying to build a group of players who are going to hopefully challenge seriously for our next piece of silverware, and we think that's highly unlikely to be this year," Clarkson said.
"But we're giving some guys some opportunities and they're enjoying those opportunities and they're acquitting themselves really well.
"Where does it take us for this year? I have no idea. All I do know is we're going to continue to invest in these players and teach them the way we need them to play to give us a chance.
"We're going to have some hiccups along the way, (but) our last two weeks have been really good."
Justifying Clarkson’s positivity, young defender Blake Hardwick was named this week’s NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for round 15 and bullish about his side’s chances against the GIANTS.
“We think we can beat anyone really, if we’re playing at our best, and we showed that two weeks ago against Adelaide who were at the top of the ladder at that time,” he said.
“If we all put in and play our roles, I’m sure we can get them.”
On the injury front, the Hawks will be without premiership defender Ben Stratton for the remainder of the season as he’s rested to fully recover from irritated cartilage in his knee joint.
Grant Birchall is also set for more time on the sidelines after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and he’ll miss this week’s clash with the GIANTS.
James Frawley (turf toe), Josh Gibson (groin) and Cyril Rioli (knee) are still continuing their recoveries and won’t be available for round 16 while Paul Puopolo is a chance to take on the orange and charcoal.
The small forward missed last week with a groin injury and will put his hand up to head to Launceston if he gets through their main training session on Thursday.
The GIANTS take on the Hawks at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston on Saturday at 1.45pm with live coverage on 7mate into NSW and the ACT and Fox Footy all around Australia.
