From establishing businesses to landing gigs on TV, an array of Hawthorn’s retired stars have gone on to forge successful careers – some far away from the football world.

So, just what are some of the Hawks' biggest names from the last two decades getting up to now? Let’s take a look.

Shane Crawford

For 17 years, Crawford was the heart and soul of Hawthorn, especially during the turbulent 1990s.

He was also one of the most well-known and much-loved faces of the 2008 premiership, but since his retirement Crawford swiftly moved his attention to the world of TV.

The 47-year-old is best known for his presenting role on The Footy Show and Australian Ninja Warrior, along with features on Getaway and Postcards.

Crawford, who played 305 senior games for the Hawks, is also currently the head coach with country footy team the Ardmona Cats.

Brent Guerra

Guerra - a two-time Hawthorn premiership player - recorded 159 games with the brown and gold before retiring in 2013.

Prior to the 2016 season, he was appointed as a development coach with Fremantle, before departing at the end of the 2019 season to return back to Victoria.

More recently this year, Guerra made a mid-season switch to country footy, joining the White Hills as part of the Heathcote District League.

Josh Gibson

A much-loved figure of the club, Gibson played 160 games for Hawthorn between 2010 and 2017.

The renowned defender and two-time best and fairest winner was an integral part of the Hawks premiership-winning streak of 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Since retirement, Gibson has remained in the public eye, starring as a panelist on Sports Tonight, appearing as a contestant in the South African jungle as part of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here and was a finalist on the 2021 season of Australian Celebrity Apprentice.

He also is heavily involved in the business world, owning Coco Vodka which sells pre-mixed vodka and coconut water drinks. 

In September, he welcomed the birth of his first child with partner Ashley Bright.

Luke Hodge

Hodge, a dual Norm Smith Medallist, four-time premiership player and three-time All-Australian, played for the Hawks between 2002 and 2017, notching up 305 games.

He announced his intention to 'hang up the boots' during the 2017 season, but then in a surprise to the football world, he opted to come out of retirement during the 2017 trade period, and flew north to continue his playing career with the Lions.

After two seasons with Brisbane, Hodge retired again at the end of 2019.

The Hawthorn legend and three-time premiership captain has since become a well-known media personality with Channel 7.

Joel Smith

Smith announced his retirement in 2007 following a career which spanned 13 years and two clubs - including 163 games at Hawthorn.

He won the club’s best and fairest in 2001, was vice-captain in 2005, earned All-Australian honours in 2001 and 2003.

Following his life away from football, Smith has built a successful real estate career with Gavl – an auction streaming and bidding service.

Richard Vandenberg

Vandenberg is the sole director, shareholder and CEO of LCW Corp - a wine making company.

Between the years of 1997 and 2007, he played with Hawthorn and was the club’s captain from 2005 until 2007.

Vandenberg’s career outside his family enterprise also still includes Hawthorn - he currently holds the role as the club's football director.

Chance Bateman

Bateman's successful career at Hawthorn included a flag in 2008 and 177 games.

He also earned the title as the Hawk’s first Indigenous life member.

Bateman returned home to Western Australia after he retired and worked with the Wirrpanda Foundation before joining West Coast’s coaching staff.

Working as a development coach at the Eagles, Bateman has also played a mentoring role with the club's Indigenous players.

Cameron Bruce

Bruce, a 234-game player with Melbourne and Hawthorn, spent five seasons working at the Hawks after retiring from AFL in 2012.

The 42-year-old has been an assistant coach at Carlton for the last four years, and the club's forwards coach for the last two seasons.

In September it was announced that Bruce would be joining Brisbane ahead of the 2022 season.

Stephen Gilham

Gilham is another one on the list to have returned to the brown and gold following his playing days.

After 98 games at the Hawks between 2006 and 2012, the 2008 premiership defender departed the club, opting to take up an opportunity to play with Greater Western Sydney.

But, after his retirement in 2014, he returned back to the brown and gold and currently works as the club's corporate sales manager.

Jade Rawlings

Picked up in the 1994 AFL Draft at Pick 94, Rawlings went on to play 116 games for the Hawks.

He then continued his career at the Western Bulldogs, followed by North Melbourne, before turning his attention to coaching following his retirement.

For three seasons beginning in 2007, Rawlings was an assistant coach at Richmond.

He later became an assistant coach at Brisbane for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, before joining Melbourne as their backline coach from 2012.

Nowadays Rawlings is the head coach at Norwood Football Club in the SANFL.

Nick Holland

Holland returned to the brown and gold fold earlier this year, accepting the newly established role as the club's GM of Legal, Risk and Integrity.

He played 179 games and booted 239 goals for the Hawks between 1994 and 2005, and won the club’s best and fairest award in 2000.

Since his retirement, Holland undertook a successful career in the field of law, backed by dual degrees in law and science.

His most recent position prior to returning to Hawthorn was as CEO of the E.J Whitten Foundation.

Brad Sewell

After completing a 200-game, dual-premiership career at Hawthorn, Sewell extended his business portfolio through a range of development and board roles, as well as ongoing broadcasting with the ABC and Channel 7.

Following his retirement, Sewell remained a board member and match review panelist with the AFL Player's Association until 2016.

He also help roles with Ladder - a non-profit organisation tackling youth homelessness.

Currently, Sewell is an investment partner with Apollo Capital Fund - a portfolio of actively managed crypto assets in Byron Bay.

Jarryd Roughead

Roughead was drafted by Hawthorn in 2004 and played 283 games for the Hawks before retiring at the end of the 2019 season. 

In 2016 he was diagnosed with cancer, and it was feared he would be unable return to AFL. But not only did Roughy come back as good as ever, he captained the club he loved, and retired as a one-club man.

In 2019, St Kilda announced Roughead had been appointed to a wide ranging full-time role in the its football department.

The four-time premiership star currently remains with the Saints where he is responsible for working across list management and the club’s leadership and mentoring program.

Campbell Brown

Brown played 159 games in the brown and gold after arriving to the club following the 2001 AFL Draft.

After two more seasons with the club on the back of its 2008 premiership, Brown went on to become one of the foundation players of the Gold Coast Suns.

He played three seasons with the Suns before calling time on his 205-game career in 2013.

Brown has since worked in the media as a commentator, and regularly assists and hosts Hawthorn events.

Jordan Lewis

Picked by Hawthorn in the 2004 AFL Draft alongside Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin, Lewis helped lift the club to its premiership success in 2008.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season and after 264 games for his beloved Hawks, Lewis made the decision to move to Melbourne.

In his first year at the Demons, Lewis finished third in the best and fairest and in 2018 he helped the Demons to their first finals appearance in more than a decade.

Off the field, Lewis undertook a building apprenticeship, before studying logistics.

He has also become a prominent figure in the media with a regular spot on AFL 360.

Ben Dixon

Dixon played 203 games for Hawthorn between 1995 and 2007 and kicked 282 goals.

He completed his level two coaching qualifications in the final years of his playing career and stayed on with the Hawks post retirement for three seasons as a development coach.

He later took on coaching roles at Collingwood in 2016 and St Kilda in 2018 and 2019 as their goalkicking coach.

Dixon also appeared regularly on Fox Sports throughout the final years of his playing career and seamlessly moved into the media upon his playing retirement.

A keen businessman, Dixon recently co-founded the influencer platform Vello whereby he has recently taken on the role as the CEO.

David Hale

Having first been drafted to North Melbourne where he played 129 games over eight seasons, Hale then moved to Hawthorn where he notched up 108 games and proved a vital part of the club’s premiership three-peat from 2013 to 2015.

The club has now welcomed Hale back into its coaching ranks, after the three-time premiership Hawk was appointed as an assistant coach ahead of season 2022.

Since his retirement after the brown and golds 2015 Grand Final win, Hale spent the past six seasons at Fremantle as an assistant coach.

Stuart Dew

After coming out of retirement to join the Hawks, Dew put together one of the best third quarter efforts in grand final history to help the Hawks achieve premiership glory in 2008.

After an injury-riddled 2009 season, Dew retired and joined the Sydney as an assistant coach.

In 2017, he was named senior coach of the Gold Coast Suns, where he has remained since.

Paul Salmon

Salmon played 324 games with Essendon and Hawthorn, 100 of which were in the brown and gold.

His football achievements include 561 goals, two premierships, three All Australians and selection in the Hawthorn Team Of The Century and the Australian Football Hall of Fame. 

He is also a successful entrepreneur and businessman who has undertaken several ventures across gyms, travel, hospitality and technology companies.

Salmon has also worked in the media co-hosting Sportsworld for Channel 7 and Time Out for Serious Fun on Channel 9, and has released several books.

Rayden Tallis

Tallis played 163 games with Hawthorn between 1994 and 2004 before retiring. 

After his playing career, he became Collingwood’s assistant player manager.

He now currently works as the manager of AFL SportsReady’s Next Goal Program.

Anthony Rock

Crossing to Hawthorn in 1999 from North Melbourne, Rock played 44 games with the brown and gold prior to retiring after the 2001 season.

Following his retirement, Rock embarked on coaching career which has included stints as an assistant coach with several AFL clubs including Melbourne, St Kilda, North Melbourne and most recently, with Fremantle.