David Hale has become the latest piece of the puzzle in Hawthorn's new-look coaching team, with the three-time premiership Hawk named as one of Sam Mitchell's assistants.
Hale, who retired from playing duties after the Hawks' 2015 flag win, has spent the past six seasons as an assistant at Fremantle.
The 37-year-old worked mostly as the club's forward-line coach during his time at the Dockers, but he also spent one week as the interim senior coach following the sacking of Ross Lyon in 2019.
Fremantle lost to Port Adelaide by 43 points in that round 23 match at Adelaide Oval.
Hale joins three-time premiership Hawk Andrew Collins and former West Coast assistant Adrian Hickmott as new inclusions to the coaching team of rookie coach Mitchell.
Chris Newman will stay on as an assistant after signing a new deal.
Mitchell took over as senior coach following the messy departure of Alastair Clarkson, who was originally set to coach for one more year.
Hale was part of Hawthorn's three-peat from 2013 to 2015 after spending the first eight years of his career at North Melbourne.
"David obviously had an outstanding playing career which he has then gone on to complement with six years' worth of valuable coaching experience at Fremantle," Hawthorn's head of football Rob McCartney said.
"Through meeting with David a number of times, we've become acutely aware that we're bringing in someone with a very strong understanding of the game and someone who knows how to get the best out of his players."
The assistant coach merry go round is set to continue, with Matthew Knights reportedly leaving Geelong to take up a position at West Coast.
Recently-retired Collingwood utility Chris Mayne is considered a chance to end up on Fremantle's coaching team.
Carlton are still on the lookout for a new senior coach after sacking David Teague.
With Ross Lyon no longer in the running and Clarkson keen to take a year off, Geelong coach Chris Scott and former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott are rumoured to be on Carlton's radar.
