Hawthorn topping up combined with Clarkson's superior coaching was able to delay the inevitable for a couple of years....but they're paying for it now....we've at least started to bite the bullet by hitting the draft and didn't trade out all our draft capital even while were up like they pretty much did....... 
Not looking for an argument here but i have never bought into them topping up and TOTALLY missing out on young players.
From 2010 onwards yes they traded out of top 30 picks and the only one i would not have done is Wingard.
2010 They went and got David Hale they needed a ruck fwd and they knew they were close to another flag so they were getting needs. they paid pick 27 for a 26yo who played a significant role in their flags. Pretty astute if you ask me.
2011 they paid 24, 46, 63 for Gunston who was just 20 so they got a 20yo kid instead of a 18 19 yo kid.In anyones language he has had a very good career for Hawthorn and would play in all three premierships.
2012 just lost a g/f and the need was for a full back. They gave up a bit for a 30yo in Lake 21 and 43, but he was the missing defensive piece to the puzzle and play kpd in three premierships. They would later add an ageing Frawley thru f/a. As we are finding out KPP'S just dont grow on trees.
they gave up pick 27 and 63 for 20 yr old Jed Anderson. Yep he was a bust but still a kid and they obviously thought him a better bet than any kid in the draft around that pick. 20yr old is hardly a top up.
2013 They wanted a ruckman with max bailey retireing they used pick 18 on 24 yr old McEvoy hes been a good investment for 8 or 9 seasons now.
2014 they traded for ORourke with 19 and 40 another kid at just 20yrs. Like Anderson a bust for them but hardly a top up at 20.
Highly touted and bust or not they thought it worth a go.
2015 they used their picks. having just won three in a row.
To this point i think they have got it right. From here is where it gets interesting and depends on what your definition to topping up is.
2016 they traded pick 10 and a second for O'Meara he was 22 at the time still a kid basically who was just getting thru issues.Is a 22yo opting out of taking kids not imo.
Tom Mitchell was also taken this year at age 23 they gave up picks 16 and 58. probably about as old as you want in giving up first rounders for a player. He would go on to win a brownlow be runner up win three best and fairests and make two a/a teams. We got Prestia as a 24 year old and i bet most don't look at him being a top up not at age 24.
2017 They traded for Jarman Impey a 22 year old with picks 33 and a 4th rounder. Top up nope. 22 yo Impey or pick 33.This imo is not ignoring youth.
2018 They made finals and did not read the writing on the wall they traded for Wingard and what a mistake imo. They gave up Burton a kid, 18 and 40 when they should have been going to the draft.
2019 - 2021 they have gone to the draft.
For me 22 23 yr olds are not top ups. top ups for me are players who are short term fixes.The 22 23 year olds they took are very much medium to long term players for any club who takes them imo.
Any way just a different way of looking at it
