Picioane, Rayden Tallis, Simon Beaumont, Steven Greene, Nick Holland, Angelo Lekkas and Nathan Lonie were either retired or moved on within Clarkson's first 12 months.
Clarkson laid the foundation for the Hawks' present success immediately with his first draft in charge - at the end of 2004 - landing the club's prized key forwards Jarryd Roughead at pick two and this year's Coleman Medal favourite Lance Franklin at pick five as well as tough midfielder Jordan Lewis at pick seven.
And the following year there were even more draft riches for the Hawks with Xavier Ellis coming in at pick three, star defender Grant Birchall at pick 14, Travis Tuck at pick 38 and former St Kilda and Port defender Brent Guerra in the pre-season draft while goalsneak Cyril Rioli (pick 12) already looks the stand-out player of last year's draft.
Clarkson may have won just five games in his first year in charge in 2005 - as the Hawks went from 15th to 14th - but since then the club has improved steadily, winning nine games and finishing 11th in 2006 before making the finals last year for the first time since 2001.
And now it is second favourite for the flag this season with Clarkson's progress as coach so far resembling that of the club's most famous coach John Kennedy.
Kennedy took over as Hawthorn coach in 1967 - just two years after the club's most recent wooden spoon - and after finishing just 10th of 12 teams in his first year, the Hawks then finished sixth, fifth and eighth in the next three years before winning the premiership in Kennedy's fifth year as coach.
Now Hawks' fans will be hoping history repeats itself with Clarkson to have his fifth year in charge of the Hawks in the first year of his new contract - next year.