HAWTHORN won't fall into the same trap of letting Essendon dictate terms when the arch-rivals renew hostilities on Saturday, star forward Jarryd Roughead says.
The Bombers dominated uncontested possessions (+53) and marks (+26) in an epic two-point victory last time the teams met at the MCG in round two, when unlikely hero Cale Hooker wobbled through the match-winning goal to snatch a famous win.
Reviewing the painful defeat, the Hawks picked apart what went wrong after they coughed up a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.
But Roughead said the back-to-back premiers also zeroed in on how the Dons got on top early and skipped away to a 35-point advantage just before half-time.
"We look back on a few things. Obviously Essendon did some things against us in terms of their uncontested marks and the way that they move the footy," Roughead told AFL.com.au.
"So we've had a look at that and gone over some plays and setups of what we can hopefully do to beat that.
"We implemented it a little bit at training and hopefully we'll be ready for Saturday."
Since their last encounter, the clubs' seasons have followed vastly different trajectories.
The 13th-placed Bombers' (4-7) finals hopes are on life support with key personnel on the sidelines.
However, the near full-strength Hawks (7-4) are once again premiership favourites following three-straight wins.
Perhaps pleasingly for coach Alastair Clarkson, Hawthorn's more consistent form hasn't been owed to bags of goals from Roughead.
The 2013 Coleman medallist went goalless for the third time in four games last round against Adelaide and his sidekick Jack Gunston failed to trouble the scorers - despite the Hawks slotting 17 majors.
"You'd like to kick goals (personally), but if we win and we have 13 different goalkickers, then that just shows how dangerous we can be as a side," Roughead said.
"Over the past two years we've been very good at having a number of goalkickers and a good spread."
Although Roughead's scoreboard impact is slightly down, with 23 goals from 11 games this year, the versatile 193cm big man is making his presence felt in other areas.
He's averaging more disposals (17.5), contested possessions (9.2), clearances (3.4) and centre clearances (1.2) per game than either of the past two seasons.
He's taken slightly fewer contested marks and marks inside 50 – also suggesting he's pushing further up the ground.
"You guys outside the club are judging me on goals and what I do in the forward line, but around here you just play you role amongst the boys," Roughead said.
"You might not kick a goal, but we win so that's the main thing.
"We're 7-4 and we're starting to get into a bit of form. So (my form's) probably similar to how the side's going a little bit scratchy early, but we're getting some consistency together now and that's what you want."
