Ever the optimist, Hawthorn flyer Isaac Smith believes the form of some of the club's next-generation players should provide some hope for the AFL powerhouse's future but he doesn't think it's time to write off the 2017 season by blooding even more youngsters.
Smith was one of the Hawks' better performers in their 86-point belting at the hands of Geelong on Easter Monday.
In the rooms after the match, he sat alongside other Hawks leaders - including Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston - without speaking for what seemed like minutes.
The performance was described by coach Alastair Clarkson was "rubbish" and the mood among the players was devastation.
"It was shocking. Just shocking," Smith told AAP.
"I don't know what to say. It's not ideal.
"We've been fortunate. We've been very successful. We're trying to be successful again and it's just not working at the moment."
Smith agreed that the Hawks were at their lowest ebb in his time at the club, and that Geelong's win could have been even more brutal.
"They just monstered us in the last quarter," he said.
"We were a bit lucky as well. They kicked 2.7 in the first quarter."
But amid the destruction Smith saw signs of rebirth, identifying a quartet of young Hawks that could hold their heads high in the loss.
"I thought Ryan Burton played well. James Sicily really clunked it," he said.
"Billy Hartung took it on. Tim O'Brien looked pretty good out there, he flew for his marks."
Nonetheless, Smith doesn't believe his side should look for renewal by throwing further youngsters into the fray
"I dont think it's time to play more kids," he said.
"A lot of it is confidence. You see some teams come out and get beaten by 10-15 goals and then they find a win and they get a roll on and they get a couple more.
"We've just got to start winning. We're not gelling at the moment. But we'll be right. We'll get there."
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