Triple-premiership veterans Breust, 33, and Jack Gunston, 32, are the two self-confessed "grumpy old men" outliers in a youthful Hawthorn that has defied the odds to make AFL finals after a 0-5 start to the season.
The pair have spent the season playing it cool while their "rascal pack" of young teammates show off exuberant goal celebrations and clamber into winning team selfies.
It didn't go unnoticed by former skipper Hodge.
"Jack and I got a message from Hodgey once we made finals and it said 'Congratulations, another finals campaign. Now, you know how it felt when I had to control you blokes 10 years ago'," Breust recalled with a laugh.
"We both wrote back and said 'Come on, we weren't that bad, like we weren't anything like these young guys now'."
Jack Ginnivan (33) is one of the young Hawks who loves to celebrate a goal in dramatic fashion. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)
Breust admits it took time to come to grips with exuberant celebrations from players such as Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and Connor Macdonald - which initially made him cringe, especially when Hawthorn were losing.
"I love it. I've embraced it. We've both embraced it," he said.
"Yes, we don't get involved in all the celebrations and the selfies and things like that post-games. We pick and choose when we want to get involved.
"It's a completely different vibe to what it was back then. But at the same time, we're absolutely loving it and are invested and all-in on these guys.
"If that's what it takes for them to play really good footy and express themselves, I'm all for it."
Hawk veteran Jack Gunston (left) celebrates a goal with youngster Connor MacDonald. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Breust could start as substitute in Friday night's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
He has tried to offer his young teammates insights into how to handle the different build-up to a night game and conserve their energy.
The forward chose to stay at Hawthorn as they dropped off the pace a couple of years back - "hopeful" but uncertain they would rise again so quickly.
This crop reminds Breust of the 2012 Hawks - who reached a grand final before their incredible three-peat - and he wants them to continue playing their way.
"The momentum we have at the moment is definitely some of the best momentum that I've been involved in," he said.
"The confidence and predictability that the guys are playing with at the moment is pretty special.
"If we can continue to execute that, then who knows what will happen the next few weeks."
Breust is out of contract at season's end but admits coach Sam Mitchell's attacking game plan has make him hungry for more.
"All these young guys around keeping me young giving Jack and I s*** every day about how old we are and how grumpy we are and all that is great for us as well," he said.
"You then get into another finals campaign for us and the first for many of them, and it does make you want to stay around and see what this group can achieve."
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