'Rage' drives 'Punky' as end looms for Hawks great

The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last.

Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth.

"He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said.

"He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can."

Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies.

Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal.

"He's as good a person as I've ever met, and anyone has ever met in footy. I don't think you'll ever meet anyone who says 'I don't know about that Luke Breust' - he's universally loved," Mitchell said.

The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games.

He and fellow forward, and good friend, Jack Gunston are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags.

He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list.

Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and he made the 2014 and '18 All-Australian teams.

But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits.

"If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said.

Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011.

Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold.

"I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added.

Such is Breust's standing at Hawthorn that despite only playing six senior games so far this season, he remains a co-vice captain.

"He's not this big, look-at-me personality, so he probably hasn't been celebrated as much outside of us," Mitchell said.