Hawks shoot for four

IT’S a new season for Hawthorn, but with some old bodies back on deck, the giant AFL club has set the same old aim. Make the top four.

The Hawks are one of the most challenging sides to read ahead of the 2018 season, which begins for them with a Saturday night clash with Collingwood. Was last year’s 12th place finish an injury-enforced aberration? If so, will the return of premiership winners Cyril Rioli, James Frawley, Paul Puopolo and Ben Stratton catapult Hawthorn to the top echelons of the ladder?

Jack Gunston confirmed the age-old goal of winning the finals double chance was the club’s goal ahead of Round 1.

“That’s the aim. It’s been the aim every year,” he said.