Shane Crawford has issued a warning to rival clubs the second-placed Hawks still have more improvement to make before season's end.

The former Hawthorn skipper, who collected 30 touches in his side's weekend win over Richmond, said his side would soon reap the benefits of undertaking a solid pre-season.

"We've got a bit of improvement in us, we've had a really good pre-season, we're a very fit side and I think we've still got a bit of improvement which is a great thing if we can get that out of everyone," Crawford said at Waverley Park on Monday.

"I just think we're not playing great football (at the moment) but we're winning games and I think if we can start teaming a bit better and being a bit more consistent for four quarters I think that's where the improvement will come."

The Hawks, who won nine games last year, have now won 10 of 15 games this season and appear on track for their first finals appearance since 2001.

Despite the growing hype, Crawford insists the players were not getting too far ahead of themselves and had their sights firmly focused on their upcoming round 16 clash with St Kilda.

"We really just have to continue to win and give ourselves an opportunity to hopefully be around at the end of the season," Crawford said.

"If you start looking too far ahead it can come back and bite you on the backside, that's one good thing whether winning or losing, we remain very focused on the side we're playing that week."

"The coaches haven't spoken about it (finals), the player's aren't but we are very happy winning at the moment."

"The competition is so even, I think a side that finishes the season off well (and) has a little bit more improvement in them, it's so open and so hard to determine who is going to be in the finals and who is actually going to win because at the moment week to week it's a bit of a nightmare for all the tipsters."

With emerging key forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead combining for nine goals in their win against the Tigers, Crawford said the Hawks list was shaping as one of the best he had been a part of throughout his 17-year career.

"They've (Roughead and Franklin) only been together a few years and we've been working extremely hard to get them both out onto the field together and it was good to see Roughy kick a few and also Lance, he started a bit slow but worked himself into it," he said.

"I think we've definitely got a list that, especially over the next two or three years is going to be the best list that I've ever been a part of."

"I've never played in a side that's been in winning form like we have been for a long period so I'm sure the club is going to be heading in the right direction and it's going to be exciting times for the supporters and hopefully the players."