Hawthorn hard-nut Jai Newcombe's blistering September berth on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs followed a home and away campaign that started with a 'quiet first few rounds' - with some mid-year reflection and honesty helping the Hawks on their way to an unlikely premiership push.
The brown and gold's well-documented turnaround from a winless opening five rounds has been one of the tales of 2024, with Sam Mitchell's men now two wins away from a grand final showing.
The form of several senior and key players was heavily criticised in the opening third of the season, with pressure - both internally and externally - reaching new heights in the wake of the club's 53-point loss to the Suns in Round 5.
That game saw the midfield trio of Newcombe, James Worpel and Conor Nash kept to a combined 34 disposals as the Hawks failed to fire in trying conditions.
While there was an expectation Mitchell's young side would need to iron out the kinks of a new mix on-field, Hawks players took it upon themselves to address their concerning results.
"A few of our better players probably weren't playing their best footy in the first five or six rounds, and they'll be the first to put their hand up and admit that, which is good," Worpel said this week.
"I think when you got a system, and you get some new players coming into the team, I think we had three or four new guys just in the forward line, it's going to take a while to gel and get going.
"But yeah, I think we built through the season nicely. We stayed relatively healthy, and we're just going to try to keep the ball rolling."
Newcombe was among the batch of Hawks to take a slice of the blame, with his personal reflection having sparked a stellar second half of the year for the Poowong product.
That rise has found new peaks in recent weeks, with Newcombe's rise continuing in front of near-98,000 fans at the MCG for his first September showing, with the bullish onballer collecting 35 disposals and a goal against the Bulldogs to poll a perfect 20 MVP votes.
The starring elimination finals saw Newcombe bring his five-game averages to 31.2 disposals, 7.8 clearances and 13.6 clearances at the high point of the year, with the 23-year-old proving to be built different when the stakes are raised.
"I spend a lot of time with Jai. We're great mates and obviously spend a lot of time on the track together playing similar positions," Worpel said of the 75-gamer.
"Yeah he was a bit quiet the first few rounds of the year, and he was the first to admit that, he was in here working every day, trying to get better.
"It's a funny thing in footy sometimes, form. You go through your career, I've experienced it and a lot of those would as well... consistency is one of the hardest things to do as an AFL footballer.
"But he's back playing some really good footy. He's so tough on the inside and he makes everyone walk tall around him."
After 'Duke the 'Nuke' made a mess of the Bulldogs' engine room, he and the Hawks' midfield ensemble will take to Adelaide Oval this week for a second slice of September action.
The Power boast a threatening midfield pack of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee, Jason Horne-Francis, Willem Drew and Ollie Wines that will prove to be another worthy test for the Hawks as they continue their hunt for a potential premiership under Mitchell.
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