HAWTHORN speedster Paul Puopolo says Saturday’s premiership win still hasn’t sunk in.

The Hawks have celebrated the victory with fans at Glenferrie Oval on Sunday and travelled to Tasmania to visit its Tassie Hawks fans on Monday, with the players yet to sit back and compute what they’ve just achieved.

For Puopolo, a mature aged recruit just three years ago, it must feel like a long time coming.

The 25 year old was recruited from Norwood in South Australia as a 22 year old with selection 66 overall in the 2010 National Draft.

He has previously missed out on selection and though his chance to fulfil his AFL dream might have been missed thanks to a back injury and poor form as a youngster.

Since he arrived at Hawthorn though, Puopolo has become a key to Hawthorn’s flag success, with his speed and ability to apply pressure crucial to Hawthorn’s game.

He has played 63 matches for the Hawks and says the win is yet to sink in.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, we’re still getting around to all the supporters and doing all that sort of stuff so we really haven’t had the chance to sit back and take it all in,” he told Adelaide radio.

It wasn’t until the 25 minute mark of the final term, when the Hawks led by four goals that the Hawthorn small forward turned midfielder allowed himself to believe the side had done enough.

Even when the Hawks led by five goals after a goal from youngster Bradley Hill, Puopolo still had his mind on the job, an attitude that typifies Hawthorn’s season.

From the outset, the Hawks were hungry and determined to taste premiership success after last year’s defeat at the hands of Sydney.

“I wasn’t really sure (when we had the game won), I don’t really look at the scoreboard normally because I’m going flat chat when it’s my turn to go,” Puopolo said.

“When we started to get a bit of a run on you could start to feel the momentum swung our way completely.

“They did have a couple of opportunities but missed and I thought, ‘we’ve got it from here’ – that was about 25 minute mark when we were about four goals up.”

While there was an outpouring of emotion and jubilation from the players and coaching staff after the siren had sounded to crown the Hawks as premiers, Puopolo revealed there was also a sense of relief for finally avenging last year’s loss.

“There was a bit of a feeling of relief when the siren went,” he said.

“I guess we maybe had a bit of pressure on us having lost the Grand Final last year and maybe people thought we might lose it again after finishing on top again.

“I guess the boys were really relieved and there was that release of pressure you were holding all season.

“Now, you can sit back because you’ve actually won it and try to enjoy it.”