RYAN Schoenmakers' flexibility has been one of his strengths, but Hawthorn teammate Sam Mitchell believes the key-position player needs to establish himself at one end of the ground to cement a regular senior berth in 2015.
Schoenmakers' name was raised in trade talks during this month's player exchange period after the arrival of ex-Melbourne key defender James Frawley at Waverley.
Adelaide and Fremantle were among the clubs to express interest in Schoenmakers, but he ultimately decided to stay at Hawthorn, where he is contracted to the end of 2015.
This year, Schoenmakers came back from a knee reconstruction he underwent after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round four, 2013, against Fremantle.
The No.16 pick in the 2008 national draft made an encouraging return, playing 15 games in a mix of defensive and forward-line roles.
But Schoenmakers, 23, was dropped before the finals as the Hawks opted to play fellow tall Matt Spangher ahead of him throughout their September campaign.
Mitchell told AFL.com.au the Hawks were pleased to keep Schoenmakers, but said the South Australian should be aiming to become a master of one position rather than a fill-in swingman.
"He's a pretty important player for us because he can fill a lot of holes: forward and back, and he can play on a wing a little bit too," Mitchell said.
"The hard thing for him is he hasn't really been able to make a spot his own.
"And the challenge he's got now is to grab a spot with both hands and make it his, rather than just being a player who can fill a forward position, fill a defensive position.
"But we're very, very happy to keep hold of him."
Mitch Hallahan is another Hawk whose name was raised this trade period. Unlike Schoenmakers, he decided Hawthorn's enviable depth – in his case, in the midfield – meant he was best to seek a fresh start at Gold Coast.
Hallahan telephoned Mitchell for advice while he was weighing up whether to serve out the final year of his existing contract at Hawthorn in 2015 or accept a three-year offer from the Suns.
Hallahan played just six games in four seasons at Waverley – all of them in 2014 – but the inside midfielder was highly rated at Hawthorn.
Nonetheless, Mitchell said the 22-year-old probably made the right decision.
"He's going to get more opportunity, more job security over the next three years at Gold Coast," Mitchell said.
"Hopefully, it ends up a bit of a win-win like the Josh Kennedy and Benny McGlynn deals.
"Both of those guys had one year to go at Hawthorn and they got three-year deals at Sydney and they've both become very good players and established players in the Sydney side.
"So hopefully Mitch Hallahan going to the Suns ends up a win-win in the same way."
