HAWTHORN has made no changes to its line-up ahead of Saturday's clash with Geelong at the MCG in what coach Alastair Clarkson says is a bid to settle his side.
Ravaged by injury this year, the Hawks have struggled to find consistency among their players and their defence has been hit the hardest.
But the recent return of full-back Stephen Gilham and the emergence of youngster Ryan Schoenmakers at centre half-back has helped stabilise the backline as well as free up Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge.
"We’ve been able to use Hodgey through the middle and that’s been a real benefit for us over the last couple of weeks," Clarkson said from Waverley Park on Friday morning.
"It gives us that flexibility now to use Hodge at half-back, forward or midfield. Obviously with that flexibility we become a lot more damaging side."
Clarkson said he had been hesitant to shift Hodge from defence but Schoenmakers, the Hawks' first-round selection in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, had provided an outlet.
"We’ve been a little reluctant to move him (Hodge) out of the back end for the bulk of the year because we’ve just been so short down back," Clarkson said.
"But with Gilham and Schoenmakers standing up in those areas it just gives us a little bit more flexibility."
In preparing for Saturday's grand final rematch, Hawthorn also carries confidence from last week's 45-point victory over Collingwood.
Hodge had 34 possessions, three goals and six tackles in the win.
"Collingwood have been in such good form and we haven’t been," Clarkson said. "So to get that victory was great for the confidence of the group and we approach the Cats this week with a little bit more confidence than had we not got that win over Collingwood.
"Whenever we play Geelong it’s always been a fantastic contest and I wouldn’t expect any different this week. We’ve had some great tussles with them over the last three or four years and it’s pretty even in terms of the win-loss over that time. So I anticipate that it will be a similar game again tomorrow."
Hawthorn has won its last two matches but is yet to claim three in a row this season. Success in the six remaining rounds is critical to the side's finals chances.
Clarkson said the players had lifted on the track and were gearing up for a strong run to September.
"We’ve noticed an edge in their training over the last couple of weeks. They’re pretty keen on trying to build on the last part of the season," he said.
"We’ve certainly been sharp on the track and more enthusiastic about applying our work so we're looking forward to what should be a pretty good clash."
