Geelong insist star forward Tom Hawkins is building towards a late-season AFL peak despite coming off one of his least productive games of the season.
The 25-year-old looked hampered by a sore back as he managed just one goal, his second lowest haul of the season, and two marks, his equal worst, in Friday night’s loss to North Melbourne.
Hawkins also struggled to run with speed at times and for the fourth straight match failed to lay a single tackle.
But coach Chris Scott said Hawkins, whose only missed game this year was against the Western Bulldogs in round five because of back tightness, was still tracking according to plan.
“We have a very considered long-term program with Tom and we’re extremely confident in it,” Scott told the AFL website.
“He’s going to have some days and some parts within games where he doesn’t look great.
“But we’ve got some confidence in that we watch him every single day and every single game.
“I didn’t see anything on the weekend that led me to believe that he’s regressed.
“We think he’s making gradual improvement and he’ll play his best football late in the season.”
Scott said the absence of forward partner James Podsiadly, who was out suspended, and ruckman Dawson Simpson put more pressure on Hawkins against the Kangaroos.
Podsiadly is due back for Saturday’s Simonds Stadium clash with Port Adelaide, who are on a three-match winning streak, although all three of those wins have been against bottom-eight sides by single-figure margins.
But Scott said the eighth-placed Power deserved respect for their ability to stand up under pressure in tight games and for the quality of their midfield.
He said youngster Chad Wingard, who produced a match-winning five-goal performance in last round’s thriller against Adelaide, was a key.
But captain Travis Boak and fellow midfielders Hamish Hartlett and Brad Ebert were also consistent class players.
“One of the big differences between this year for them and last year is the personnel they’ve got available,” Scott said.
“They’ve got some very damaging young players so it’s going to be a test.”
