A 70-point win over Gold Coast meant that for a tenth-consecutive season Hawthorn won at least 10 games.
[6] Hawthorn continued its alignment with the Box Hill Hawks Football Club in the Victorian Football League, allowing Hawthorn-listed players to play with the Box Hill Hawks when not selected in AFL matches.
[9] On 8 October 2018, it was confirmed that Director of High Performance Andrew Russell would be departing the club after fourteen seasons, having accepted a position at Carlton.
[10] On 19 October 2018, it was announced that former player and 2008 AFL premiership captain Sam Mitchell would return to the club as an assistant coach, having been an assistant coach at West Coast and helping the club win the 2018 AFL Grand Final.
[11] On 3 November 2018, Torin Baker was announced as the new development coach, filling the role previously held by Max Bailey.