Five months ago an AFL flag slipped through their fingers. In seven months a champion might do the same.
The 17 other clubs mightn’t be all that’s standing in the way of Hawthorn’s premiership push this season.
There are two more potential enemies – regret and apprehension.
Regret that but for a lack of composure on the biggest stage last September, they, not Sydney, could be weeks away from unfurling another premiership flag.
Apprehension that with Lance Franklin refusing to consider a new deal until the end of the season, this might be their last shot at winning another with the help of their most potent weapon.
Collingwood faced a similar scenario last year: coming off a grand final defeat; premiership favourites in the pre-season; and with their best key forward Travis Cloke non-committal on his future.
Cloke stayed a Magpie, as Franklin probably will a Hawk.
But Collingwood have since conceded that the uncertainty most likely had some small effect on their failure to go further last year.
The Hawks are being as philosophical as they can.
They acknowledge the only worthwhile response to the past is to learn from it.
Rehearsing their approach to tight finishes has been one focus.
Kicking for goal is another.
“The players have put emphasis on that because they know that our inaccuracy at times was costly for us last year, particularly in finals,” Hawks head of coaching and development Chris Fagan told AAP.
“We were the most inaccurate team in the finals series.
“It nearly cost us the (preliminary final) against Adelaide.
“It certainly was not the only reason we lost the grand final, but it was a significant contributing factor.”
The Hawks have also looked to strengthen a defence that proved dangerously vulnerable to big key forwards.
The recruitment of ex-Western Bulldogs All Australian Brian Lake could prove a coup in that regard.
And Hawthorn still believe emerging key backman Ryan Schoenmakers, who struggled against the best opposition forwards at key times last season, will handle them better with increased maturity.
They’ll continue to try to inject more pace into a midfield led by Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis – all strong ball-winners but none of them quick.
There will be tinkering with the game plan, but nothing major.
“We did get a lot of the year right,” Fagan said.
“We’re not going to turn the place upside down and change what we do because we lost a grand final.”
The expected return to fitness of inspirational skipper Luke Hodge, who had a horror 2012 dogged by calf and knee injuries, then illness during the finals, should be another gain.
That’s provided the 29-year-old, in doubt for round one after off-season knee surgery, can return to something near his best.
As to Franklin’s intention to explore his free agency options, the Hawks say they can’t change it so there’s no point dwelling on it.
“What we have to do as an AFL industry is get our heads around that and not get too hysterical about things,” Fagan said.
“That’s what it’s like here at Hawthorn.
“We accept Bud’s right to do that.
“We’ve got no doubt that he’s going to be going 100 per cent at the Hawks this year and that’s our only concern at the moment.”