I LEARNED an interesting lesson while playing with the great Hawthorn teams of the 1980s.

And that is, that once teams have a genuine belief and vision that the group can be a part of a premiership, the senior coach's job becomes an easier task.

Of course coaches are still under immense pressure to deliver that elusive flag, but usually they have a playing group that is hungry to ensure each individual does not miss his opportunity to be a part of history.

In my time, even when I was at my most established and vice-captain of the club, I never wanted to miss any game, including practice matches, for fear of giving someone else an opportunity in my position and the club a chance to look at other options.

At the same time you had young players just waiting for that chance to break in to the senior team and show their worth.

Several decades on there have been so many changes to our great game, but hunger and desperation is still evident in the top teams.

On Sunday you only had to look at the attitude and approach shown by the undefeated Geelong.

Having taken this season by storm, both injuries and suspension appeared to be taking its toll. Star young gun Joel Selwood was out for a month and joined on the sidelines by Mathew Stokes and Josh Hunt, who were suspended in the clash against Hawthorn last week.

At selection they also lost the experienced Darren Milburn and young star Nathan Vardy. Add to this the horrific head knock to Brownlow medallist James Bartel, who quite rightly was rested by the club, and the late withdrawals on the day of the match of premiership players Brad Ottens and James Kelly.

To most clubs this would spell disaster, but at Geelong this type of crisis simply creates opportunities for others.

The team still had its full complement of premiership backline players, which always creates a stable environment, but more importantly they were surrounded by a group of desperate blokes wanting to show that if called upon they would step up for the club.

Three non-premiership players striving to join their decorated teammates - Daniel Menzel, Mitch Brown and Allen Christensen - kicked eight goals between them. Add to them Mitch Duncan and Steven Motlop, who again are hoping to be a part of September action, and you get an understanding of how competitive senior positions have become.

This is the most healthy football environment of all, as no one wants to let the club down and perhaps miss his opportunity.

A couple of days earlier we saw exactly the same scenario occurring with Hawthorn. This club reinvented itself two months ago. Regardless of injury, the Hawks opened up opportunity to the next wave of new and hungry players who weren't a part of their 2008 premiership campaign, with stunning results.

Last Friday night it was the young brigade that put the cream on the Hawk cake against Essendon.

Sixteen of the 23 goals were scored by non-premiership players: Shane Savage three goals/25 possessions, Isaac Smith three goals/25 possessions, Liam Shiels three goals/27 possessions, Matt Suckling two goals/31 possessions, Brendan Whitecross one goal/15 possessions, Kyle Cheney one goal/21 possessions and the experienced David Hale three goals/13 possessions.

The club could not have possibly asked for a more dynamic output from this group. Once again they do not wish to miss September action.

As usual the reigning premier normally sets the example for others to follow.

It was Collingwood's brave approach mid-season last year when the Magpies presented opportunity to a young group of players at the expense of club stalwarts who were left lamenting in the VFL.

In my opinion this changing of the guard set the Magpies in their premiership direction, as these young men would have committed to anything to grasp their finals chance.

Once again this season the Pies are keeping the hunger in the ranks. They brought in established players in Chris Tarrant and Andrew Krakouer, who were immediate threats to those with premiership medallions, while they have been open to giving opportunity to the likes of youngsters John McCarthy, Simon Buckley and Alex Fasolo.

Coaches managing teams down the ladder must crave for this type of natural competitive dynamic, but my history tells me it's only created when that elusive premiership glory is in sight.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs