SHANE Crawford's decision on whether to continue his 305-game career remains the only major question surrounding Hawthorn's highly-advanced preparations for 2009, with grand final hero Stuart Dew and defender Brent Guerra having had discussions about new contracts.

The decision on whether 34-year-old Crawford plays on will be left up to the 1999 Brownlow medalist, while Dew, a favourite of coach Alastair Clarkson, will be offered at least a one-year deal in the wake of his match-winning performance in the grand final.

Guerra, who also performed well in the finals, is understood to be seeking a two-year deal. Guerra, Dew and Crawford are the only members of the grand final 22 not under contract for 2009.

The Hawks not only have a contractual lock on their premiership players, but the club has quietly re-signed the key football department figures of football operations manager Mark Evans, fitness and conditioning coach Andrew Russell and list manager Chris Pelchen. Evans, Russell and Pelchen have all been re-contracted for the next three seasons — meaning their tenures are sychronised with Clarkson, who was re-signed until the end of 2011 earlier this year.

In due course, the club is likely to consider re-negotiating Lance "Buddy" Franklin's contract before it expires. Franklin is understood to be paid considerably less than his market worth — industry sources say it will be in the vicinity of $400,000 next year — and Hawthorn, if it has salary cap room next year, can extend his contract and bump up the amount for 2009 and/or 2010. Franklin has two years left on his contract.

Keen to ensure stability and recognising that off-field poachings are commonplace for premiership teams, the Hawks have all their major football department officials and assistant coaches under contract for next year.

"At this stage we don't envisage losing anybody from the off-field staff," said Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson. "The review of playing list will become a focus over the next week or two, building through trade week and then obviously the delisting."

Hawthorn is understood to be in a position to leave Crawford's future in his own hands, due to the fact that, like all clubs, it will be granted access to two additional rookie list players in 2009.

If Crawford wishes to continue playing, he will deny the Hawks only one rookie list player — seven rookies, instead of eight (with 39 on the list, instead of 38), and, with only half his salary counting under the salary cap (as a veteran), money is not a major issue either.

The Hawks are required to have at least three selections in the national draft, which means they have to delist at least another two players — Danny Jacobs having retired mid-season.

The club is open-minded about whether to keep its first selection (pick 16) in the national draft, or to trade it for a player that fits its needs.

Robson acknowledged the difficulty of removing players from the senior list to make way for the mandatory draft picks and new players.

"It's always difficult for any premiership group and we saw the reality of that for Geelong last year, with Steven King just one example, being traded, what, 10 days after a premiership.

"But we think we're in good shape to keep our group together.

"Shane (Crawford) will sit down with Alastair at some stage over the next month and have that coach-player conversation. Shane has espoused a line over the last month … which is focus on the now, seize this moment, seize this opportunity."

The Hawks go to Tasmania today to parade the premiership trophy and hoping the Tasmanian football community will let go the passionate bid for their own AFL team and simply embrace Hawthorn.

"No Tasmanian team will ever give on the mainland the same sort of publicity that we give to Tasmania in their interest," said president Jeff Kennett. "I will be saying to the premier, 'finish your exercise you've got with Hawthorn — a partner money can't buy'."

Hawthorn have a $3 million-a-season deal with Tasmania to play four games per season in Launceston until 2011.