You could mount a case that Luke Breust is in career-best form. 

Breust has booted 11 goals through the opening month of the season, a feat that he has only bested once in his eight-year career: in 2014 when he earned an All Australian nod.

His opening four rounds have included two bags of four goals against Collingwood and Melbourne and a three-goal performance against the Tigers.

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Breust says that his strong form is a credit to the functioning of the Hawks forward line, with Jarryd Roughead (ten goals) and Jack Gunston (six) also having prominent opening months. 

“I’m just happy there’s a good forward line down there at the moment,” Breust said after the win over Melbourne. 

“There’s a good feel and it’s great to play alongside the guys that I get to.” 

Breust was a level above in the Hawks win over the Demons on Sunday, as his cleanliness with ball in hand and strength in the contest ensured he was the most potent force on the ground. 

But it hasn’t just been the 27-year old’s work in front of goals that have propelled him to this high standard.

The three-time premiership player is also averaging career-highs in disposals (15.8 per game) and tackles (five per game). 

His ability to be a scoring option for the Hawks as well as a source for immense defensive pressure is what has made him so valuable to the fourth-placed Hawks.

“It’s been a positive start. 

“We set ourselves for this first month because we knew we had some quality opponents. 

“It doesn’t get any easier though and we will now need to concentrate on the next month of footy.”