Buckle in Hawthorn fans, it's going to be a bumpy AFL ride.
Alastair Clarkson is as unsure as anyone how long it will take their new-look side to gel, with the coach warning they might need half the season.
Their Generation Next has featured prominently in the selections for the opening two rounds.
Taylor Miles will make his AFL debut in Tuesday's bumper MCG match against Adelaide, while fellow youngsters Ryan Burton and Kade Stewart also return to the senior team.
They were among four unforced changes as the Hawks swung the axe following their round-one loss to Essendon.
Former captain Luke Hodge returns from his club suspension, while the Hawks dropped Ryan Schoenmakers, Taylor Duryea, James Sicily and Billy Hartung.
Hawthorn's round-one team also featured four recruits from other clubs - Jaeger O'Meara, Tom Mitchell, Ty Vickery and Ricky Henderson.
Clarkson said Hawthorn's performance against Essendon was spasmodic and added there were signs during the match that the new players were still learning Hawthorn's systems.
He has no idea how long that process will take.
"That's the great unknown ... how long is a piece of string?," Clarkson said.
"I'm not sure whether it's going to take two weeks or 12 weeks.
"But what I do know is we're going to continue to invest heavily in those guys and our younger players too."
And Clarkson bluntly warned that the four omissions were far from the only Hawks who must improve.
"We had four guys and perhaps 10 or 12 others who just didn't perform to the level that we would have liked," Clarkson said.
"But that wasn't just a one-week thing - usually form is a reflection or four or five weeks.
"Our pre-season form wasn't sensational and we have high standards at the footy club."
Clarkson wants more run and rebound out of defence and he said the light-framed Miles could help provide that.
"He's not a huge player ... but he runs really well, reads the game really well and uses the ball really well," Clarkson said.
While Hodge provides an obvious boost, Clarkson warned he is not the key for Hawthorn to beat Adelaide.
"Obviously he's been a fantastic player ... but if we're reliant just on Hodgey to get us across the line we're in a bit of strife," Clarkson said.
"If we're short on our endeavour and application, which we were across a fair few of our players last week, then we're probably going to find ourselves in trouble.
"They're a formidable outfit, the Crows."
Clarkson said Adelaide's unexpected demolition of the Giants last Sunday was a stark reminder of the need for consistency - or else.
"It's amazing how everyone turns - GWS are flag favourites and everyone has turned on them in a week," he said.
"They (were) playing against a good side, in 34 degrees, in Adelaide - it's pretty tough.
"It's so fickle, this business, but you need to perform."
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