AFL great Kane Cornes has shed light on an interesting strategy that Hawthorn is using which is at odds with their rival clubs.

And that tactic is around the use of their substitute in games, with coach Sam Mitchell typically nominating a club veteran for the role.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Hawthorn’s interesting substitute tactic revealed.

“Hawthorn are doing something very unique that the competition hasn’t picked up on yet,” Cornes said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

“This is the use of their sub, and when you notice who they use as their sub, it is always an experienced player.

“It’s handy that they’ve got (34-year-old forward) Luke Breust, but if you’re questioning why (they kept) Sam Frost (during the off-season), I can tell you why.

“They love to have a leadership, coaching-type player on the interchange bench, and someone who can handle it.”

The average age of Hawthorn’s substitute player is 28.32 compared to 24.36 for the rest of the competition.

“If it’s a young player, they get rattled,” Cornes said.

“They use (their sub) as an extra coach on the bench, and they know that the player can handle it more so than an inexperienced player.”

Channel 7’s Luke Hodge — a former premiership teammate of Mitchell’s — said his old mate wanted to have someone who he could trust in the role.

“It’s also the fact that Sam Mitchell knows that the person who’s coming on he can trust to have an impact,” Hodge said.

Hodge said Frost, a defender, also allowed Mitchell to swing captain James Sicily forward if that move was required.

And Breust was always reliable when he was injected into the play, Hodge said.