ISAAC Smith has gone into bat for under-fire teammate James Sicily, as the Hawks deliberate on whether to challenge his one-week ban for an incident involving Joel Selwood. 

Selwood and Sicily clashed in the last quarter of Hawthorn's one-point win over Geelong on Easter Monday, with opinions varied on how the Hawk's knees came into contact with the Cat's head. 

Match review officer Michael Christian offered Sicily a one-week suspension shortly after Smith spoke to reporters at Waverley Park on Tuesday. 

It was the second heated on-field incident involving Sicily in as many rounds, after he engaged in a verbal stoush with Magpie Adam Treloar a week earlier. 

The 23-year-old has established a reputation well before this year for his fiery personality, which contrasts with his quiet nature off the ground, but Smith defended Sicily's style. 

"'Sis' plays with a lot of passion and arguably Hawthorn's best captain ever, 'Hodgey' (Luke Hodge), played with a fair bit of passion as well," Smith said.

"It's a game that you've got to play close to the line and sometimes blokes will step over it and sometimes they won't.

"I think fans love seeing aggression and passion and spirit out on the field, so you give and take and we'll wait and see." 

Smith said it was too early to consider Hawthorn a flag contender after only two rounds, but was not surprised at how swiftly the brown and gold had turned around its fortunes. 

The Hawks won six of their last 10 matches last year and drew another with eventual preliminary finalist Greater Western Sydney in what should have been a warning. 

"We've still got a fair few players who've played in that premiership (era)," he said.

"We had seven or eight bad games of football last year and it was said it was a downfall, but I think every team has periods over the years where (they've had) seven or eight bad games of footy. 

"What was pleasing was we could turn it around pretty quickly and start to play some good footy, but, saying that, we're two rounds in and you can't get too carried away." 

Hawthorn's next challenge is reigning premier Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, with the Tigers fresh from defeat and with four extra days' preparation. 

"I actually prefer to play off a six-day break more than, I think, we had nine or 10 after round one," Smith said.

"I'd prefer just to back it up and it just means you do less training at the club and you have less meetings, so you can just get out there and play."