It has been well-publicised that Hawthorn used their bye weekend to “tinker” with their game.
In the month leading into the bye, the Hawks registered a 1-3 record with a glaring struggle to score as they averaged just 67 points over the period.
But with two games and two wins down since the week off, it appears Alastair Clarkson’s adjustments have already paid dividends on both an offensive and defensive front.
On Saturday against the Gold Coast, the Hawks recorded an enormous 22 marks inside their forward 50.
Indicative of the efficiency and potency of a team’s ball movement, the number was a season-high for the brown and gold, having averaged 10.8 marks inside 50 before Saturday’s game.
Read: Five talking points - Hawthorn v Gold Coast
These proficient entries have turned into a barrage of scoring opportunities, with the Hawks’ 31 shots at goal their second-highest tally for the season after another 28 the week previous against Adelaide.
Had it not been for the Hawks also delivering their worst two goal kicking accuracy efforts of the year over the past two rounds, and the pair of 50-plus point margins could have been extended.
On the other side of the game, the Hawks’ defensive work in recent weeks has seen opposition sides conversely starved of scoring opportunities.
Clarkson’s side conceded just 30 scoring shots over Rounds 13 and 14.
Having conceded the fifth-least points against this season (average of 74.8 points against per game), the Hawks are putting together an impressive run of defensive restriction.
Saturday’s game marked the third week in a row for the Hawks where the opposition side has failed to kick ten goals.
Furthermore, the Hawks have allowed their opposition a triple-digit score on only one occasion in their last ten outings.
If the Hawks can continue work of this quality on both sides of the game, a return into the top eight doesn't look too far off.
