Hawks shown the standard
Coming into their round six match against a spluttering Sale side, there was plenty of reason for Drouin to be confident.
Coming out of it, however, the Hawks had a reminder of just what teams can do you if you're even slightly off.
The Hawks started slow once again and were well and truly made to pay for it, falling 9.9 (56) to 16.13 (109).
The damage was all done in the first half, especially the first term, where the Magpies effectively controlled the flow of play.
Their midfield was well on top of the Hawks in the centre, in large part due to the Hawks missing ruckman Aaron Pawel, giving the Magpies repeated entries inside 50.
When the Hawks were able to exit from defence, their desire to get the ball moving with pace along the wing at all costs ran them into some trouble.
Missed kicks and handballs were costly, as the Magpies' excellent pressure made Drouin panic on numerous occasions. Many turnovers were forced, but plenty were unforced thanks to the perceived pressure Drouin felt off half back.
Shannon Lange was at his very best, showing why he's one of the league's premier players both in the middle and up forward, where he found himself on the end of three goals.
Former-Maffra hard nut Hudson Holmes was similarly powerful around the ball, while the return of experienced half forward Kane Martin (three goals) reaped rewards.
The Magpies were winning the ball and were unafraid to keep it moving, playing on or giving off a handball to a passing player at most opportunities.
Given the sheer amount of ball they had in their forward half early, it was just a matter of time before the Magpies made it count. And make it count they did.
Sale was effective finding looks at goal inside 50, consistently honouring leads or letting their bigger bodies do the work with contested marking.
By quarter time Sale had 5.8 to Drouin's 1.1, a great play off half back that found Clayton Kingi free inside 50 the only Hawks major.
By the time the second term came around the match levelled out to a degree, the Hawks able to find a bit more space and get their running game up and going.
Kye Quirk found more of the ball in the middle and Jordan Kingi began distributing well out of the backline. Hugo Birks finished his day with two goals, but could easily have had more if not for some inopportune misses.
The match paused briefly after Will Papley was collected high, the young Hawk looking worse off as he exited the ground and not returning thereafter.
But despite the better composure from Drouin, Sale kept making their chances count.
The margin was consistently threatening to blow out, but some late goals to the Hawks ensured it would stay under seven goals.
The second half played out much like the second quarter, and though the crowd hoped that the Hawks might be able to stage some sort of fightback as they have in weeks past, it wasn't to be this time.
Sale, despite having begun their year one and four, played the grand final last year for a reason. And with important players coming back into their side, they clearly looked at this match as a chance to build momentum going forward in their chase for the top five.
They did exactly what they had to do, consigning the Hawks to what was undoubtedly the biggest speed bump in their year to this point.
Drouin, meanwhile, will be left to lick their wounds and plan out the next few rounds past this week's bye.
They'll next head to Maffra to take on the Eagles in what looms as their most winnable game for some time, with matches against top three teams Moe, Leongatha and Traralgon to follow after.
Drouin coach Brent Clinnick said the club was hopeful ruckman Aaron Pawel would be available for selection by the next match, as well as versatile utility Alex McMillan.
Combined with the return of experienced defender Tim Hancock against the Magpies, and the Hawks' tall stocks should be in its best shape all year soon.
Lose against the Eagles though and it may well be a tough few weeks for the club.
The Hawks have been desperately unlucky not to steal a win this season and have made incredibly positive strides in the first year of a rebuild, but this is where their mettle is truly going to be tested as far as 2023 is concerned.
Let's see how they handle it.