IT WAS a glimpse into Hawthorn's future when Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jarryd Roughead were sidelined against Richmond, and Alastair Clarkson must've liked what he saw from captain-in-waiting Liam Shiels.
Shiels had been in a "scratchy" patch of form, battling to get his hands on the Sherrin after feeling his way back from a fractured wrist.
But when the Hawks needed a response to their shellacking from Greater Western Sydney, the hard-nosed midfielder got back to doing what he does best: the tough stuff.
Shiels laid 16 tackles – the second-most of his 129-match career – and kept tabs on Dustin Martin after quarter-time in a 46-point trampling of the Tigers last Friday night.
It harkened back to the contest-first mentality that elevated Shiels' standing at Waverley, with the triple-premiership Hawk forgetting about what he wasn't doing well and focusing on his strengths.
"I was one of those guys who had to step up in the absence of those guys and bring a bit more leadership and grunt inside the contest," Shiels told AFL.com.au.
"It probably did help me a little bit and narrowed my focus. I was coming back from a wrist injury and missed a few games, so I was a little bit scratchy early on.
"I wanted to go back to doing what I do best, and that's bringing pressure and tackles and hopefully possessions will come alongside that."
Shiels is only averaging four fewer possessions (17.2) than 2015, however his disposal efficiency (58 per cent) has tumbled and his slight dip in form came while Mitchell was fighting with little midfield support.
Liam Shiels has been an integral component to the Hawks' dominance. Picture: AFL Media
However, with Mitchell sidelined by a corked calf, the Hawks' engine room started firing on a few more cylinders.
Jordan Lewis seemed inspired after assuming the captaincy against the Tigers, Will Langford's grunt was important and Isaac Smith got dangerous as the Hawks got their damaging kicking game up and going.
"If you look at the stats, Mitch is always up there with 30-plus and the other midfielders not so much," Shiels said.
"I think early on (in the year) there has been too much of a reliance on Mitch and I think on the weekend … guys had to step up.
"I think Will Langford played a great inside game in the absence of Mitch and also the leadership of blokes down back like Ben Stratton was fantastic without Hodgey down there.
"I think we got the ball in the hands of Billy Hartung, Isaac Smith and Grant Birchall – those great ball-users – and our ball movement was great in the last quarter and it showed on the scoreboard."
While some have been quick to write-off Hawthorn's hopes of winning an historic fourth-straight flag – club great Jason Dunstall included – these Hawks have heard it all before.
Clarkson has been regenerating his team with youth, but they're still boasting a 5-2 record and have already faced five top-eight teams.
It's an enviable place to be with a clash against winless and undermanned Fremantle to come at their Aurora Stadium fortress on Saturday.
"We're pretty happy with the position we're in," Shiels said. "We haven't played our best footy, but we're looking to build on what we've done so far.
"We know what (Fremantle is) capable of and we definitely won't be taking them lightly."
