ALASTAIR Clarkson has fired out a warning to the rest of the competition, saying his 9-1 Hawks will only improve after their mid-season break.
After brushing aside Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, the Hawks coach said with ever-increasing depth, his side's best was yet to come.
It's a scary thought, given the Hawks have already played most of the top finals contenders, but Clarkson was buoyed by the efforts of youngsters Sam Grimley and Taylor Duryea, along with the imminent returns of hardened trio Cyril Rioli, Brendan Whitecross and Xavier Ellis.
He insisted there would be no rush to bring back the brilliant Rioli, who may return as soon as their next clash with Carlton, but could also be missing for as many as four more weeks.
"We've had a really, really tough start to the year and done a fair amount of travelling, so we're really pleased to be 9-1 and get a break," he said after his side belted Melbourne by 95 points.
"But we know we've got a lot of hard work ahead of us and we've got some very good sides to play in the run home as well.
"The most pleasing part about our club at the minute is the seniors are winning well and (VFL affiliate) Box Hill are winning well.
"Even though we've had a little bit of misfortune with some knee injuries, we've got two or three guys like Whitecross and Ellis and these type of guys who (will) come back into the fold over the next couple of weeks. Rioli's another one, obviously.
"So get those two or three guys back into our selection mix in terms of senior footy, it will give us some headaches at selection certainly, but it’s a good position to be in as a footy club.
"We still think there's some improvement in terms of the way that we play.
"We've just been a little bit unsettled the last three or four weeks just with some changes to our side. (David) Hale and (Max) Bailey haven’t played much together over the past month.
"But we've give some kids an opportunity and that's really pleasing for the depth of our side."
He was particularly impressed with the efforts of Grimley and Duryea, and said there were "three or four others" who were getting closer to being rewarded with an opportunity.
Clarkson said there was nothing sinister about skipper Luke Hodge being subbed off in the third quarter.
"He's fine. He's had a really heavy workload and we've just been delighted with what he's been able to contribute to our side," he said.
Clarkson said his players would be given a mid-week break before preparing for the Carlton clash.
