The third most capped player in the foundation club's history, Coenraad's well qualified to judge with his 300-plus game career with the club full of ups and downs.

The current season't had plenty, continuing on Thursday with confirmation that Darington Hobson will depart for the US prior to Friday's final-round clash with Sydney - the fourth import to leave the club before the season's out.

One might readily assume a 5-22 season - one that culminates in Friday's road clash with league-leaders - is the lowest point, but Coenraad insists the solidarity in the group despite the tumult has made it more than bearable.

"I've definitely had tougher years," Coenraad said.

"Every one of these guys is a really hard worker and I've really loved being around this group of guys with their work ethic and their approach to the game. I'd rather be in this situation with this group of guys than win three-four more games with a group of guys that you don't get that same feel with.

"It hasn't gone the way we wanted, there's a lot of what ifs, what if this guy or that guy had stayed healthy or whatever else, but we've been able to put 11 guys on the court every time.

"It's up to those 11 guys to get it done and we haven't got that done. I know it's been a rough season and not ideal but we do want to finish it the right way, even if that's just a good team effort where we put it all out on the line and play for each other.

"I think a few times this season we haven't given that effort and it's really been deflating so we really want to go out on the right note."

Short-term pain, long-term gain has been a constant mantra of coach Matt Flinn, who's used the testing season to put his younger crew through the tough school of week to week NBL. Few know more about that than Coenraad and he's confident he's witnessing the birth of what can be a bright era for the club.

"We've got some guys who are going to be around the league for a while and they're going to look back at this season as their first chance to go out there and compete against the best every night," Coenraad said.

"For them they're going to look back at this season and realise it was invaluable for them, yeah it doesn't look good in the wins and losses but they're going to think 'you know what, I needed this'.

"It's definitely a growth year because these guys have managed to get something so rewarding out of it in being out there and competing against the best."

It's a new era he fully intends to be around for, with the 35-year-old making no secret of his desire to continue his career with the Hawks after again underlining his value as a bench spark plug this season.

It will mean once again navigating the chaos of free agency but, while it's not the hardest campaign he's endured, Coenraad certainly doesn't want it to be his last with his beloved Hawks.

"I'm always nervous about this end of the season, this season more than most because I don't want to go out like this," Coenraad said.

"I don't want my last season to be a wooden spoon season and us winning five or six games so I really want to be back. I know my ideal role is providing energy and some punch off the bench and maybe whispering a few things in the younger guys ears' every now and then.

"I still feel like I've got a lot to give and, at the end of the day, I'm a ball player and I want to keep playing because I love it."