Port Adelaide's Shaun Burgoyne was the coveted pick to boost the midfield and he cost the Hawks two first-round picks (their own plus one they received from Essendon for Mark Williams).

Then came Josh Gibson, who crossed from North Melbourne, and not without some rancour from his former club, and he cost the Hawks their second round picks, 25 and 41 overall.

So far, all this pair have in common is that they have both injured their hamstrings. Burgoyne, who was coming off a delayed pre-season due to knee surgery, pinged his hammy just before he was about to play his first practice game and is only due back this week, logically through the VFL given that he hasn't played, but Alastair Clarkson is hinting that he could play against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.

Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge must be praying for his return because they badly need a chop-out. Add Brad Sewell to the mix and the Hawks will have a gun midfield.

But they're back to square on in the backline with the news that Gibson hasn't just tweaked a hammy but torn it really badly. He will be missing for the next 12 weeks at least, which means they are as badly off now as they were when the now-retired Trent Croad cracked his foot during the 2008 Grand Final. You can imagine the Kangas having a quiet chuckle about it.

Apart from a very late night at the Grand Prix, Gibson was going really well. The Hawks didn't boast the biggest backline but it was quite organised and well drilled. Gibson had them moving in the right direction.

Now they're back to one big body - Steve Gilham - and one emerging key defender in Ryan Schoenmakers. Tom Murphy will need to play on a bigger body once again, which proved a task beyond him several times last year.

The Hawks have enjoyed one stroke of luck. They drafted a mature-aged defender out of the WAFL last year, Ben Stratton, and he did OK against the Bulldogs. He has long arms and knows how to spoil and for now, he'll have to do.

But not much else has gone right for the Hawks. Many would say that barely 18 months removed from a flag, they don't need any more good fortune. But they have a wretched run on the injury front and not a lot more luck at the tribunal.

And the prospects of win there tonight, with Lance Franklin again facing a rough conduct charge, don't look too bright, either.