Are North and Hawthorn bad, or have they just faced a tough draw?

From Hurling People Now:

Almost every credible (and non-credible) football journalist in the country has waxed lyrical about the decline of the Mighty Hawks, and the Considerably Less Mighty Roos. Both sides were finalists in 2016, but have gotten off to tough starts in 2017, a combined 0-8 through a month of footy.

Source: Are North and Hawthorn bad, or have they just faced a tough draw? | Hurling People Now