GEELONG forward Tom Hawkins needs to adopt the mindset of a key defender to avoid the sloppy free kicks that marred his performance against North Melbourne on Sunday.
While Hawkins recovered to play a crucial hand with four goals, the big Cat gave away five free kicks in the first three quarters through undisciplined play when the ball was in his team's attacking 50.
Coach Chris Scott said it was an area of Hawkins' game he needed to improve, describing the free kicks as "really sloppy, undisciplined and blatant".
"You don't see defenders giving away sloppy ones like that, because it gives away goals," Scott said after the thrilling one-point win.
"The mentality of the key forward needs to be a bit more like the mentality of the key defender.
"Some of them were dubious, as a lot of decisions are in the game, but some of the were just really sloppy, undisciplined, blatant free kicks. That's a (room for improvement)."
Scott said Hawkins was often frustrated in matches because the key forward felt the 50-50 free kicks often went against him.
The coach said it was also up to the coaches to work with him on giving "better cues" to the umpires when he is being held by his opponent.
Hawkins finished with four goals, including an important set shot on the three-quarter time siren, but he was outpointed by opponent Robbie Tarrant for much of the match.
The Cats trailed by as much as 32 points late in the third quarter, but midfielders Patrick Dangerfield (37 disposals and 11 clearances) and Joel Selwood (26 and nine inside 50s) sparked a fourth-quarter rally.
Scott described the win as "a story around perseverance rather than anything mercurial or tactically brilliant", praising his senior players.
"Our best players are our leaders right at the moment, and they do have a lot of faith in what they can do as individuals, which helps," the coach said.
"But I think their confidence in the rest of our team is growing.
"We had a big portion of our team that was probably beaten on the day, but they were still fighting towards the end.
"And that is a reflection of the way the senior players were encouraging them to keep believing and keep staying in it."
A crucial moment in Sunday's match was the move to send Harry Taylor from attack to his more familiar surrounds in defence in the third quarter.
Taylor, an All Australian centre half-back, had been largely ineffective as a forward but steadied the Cats as a defender when they were under siege and 32 points down.
Scott said the Cats had a lot to consider when weighing up where to play Taylor.
"It'll depend on the opposition and the challenge they present, and most specifically it'll depend on the situation in the game … I think we're just kind of 50-50 on that one," the coach said.
"We're not wedded to playing him as a forward and we're certainly not bloody-minded about it either.
"If the situation dictates that he needs to be in our back half then we'll do it."
Chris Scott and Tom Hawkins argue the point. Picture: AFL Photos
