A return to the forward line is no certainty for Hawthorn defender Blake Hardwick, who was instrumental in the Hawks' five-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday after switching ends in the second half.
Hardwick was moved forward to start the third term and would boot four goals before the next break, partnering small forwards Dylan Moore and Jack Ginnivan to combine for nine of the Hawks' 11 majors for the evening.
The hard-nosed half-back flanker had trained as a forward over the course of the pre-season before resuming his traditional role in Sam Mitchell's rearguard, with the Hawks' Round 4 plans relying on a positional shift in the absence of goalsneaks Luke Breust and Nick Watson.
With just three goals on the board to half-time, Mitchell decided to throw Hardwick forward in a move that proved to be a masterstroke, reducing the reigning premiers' 38-point lead to within a kick.
While Hardwick's display against the Magpies was game-changing, his coach said a starting role in attack next week against the Suns is no certainty.
"He's a frustratingly good player, so I'm really nervous to move him out of the back half at any time because he's so important back there," Mitchell said.
"We knew the contest in front of the game was an area where we had struggled, we lost a lot of team shape in the second quarter in particular. So we made a few changes at half-time.
"Everyone who's watched him train and play forward has thought that was happening and thought he's going to be able to kick a score at some point. We've used him at different times there, but this was the first time he really got the opportunities and took them and I was I was pleased for him.
"Moving him out of the backline I was always a bit nervous, but I was really proud of him. I thought he had a fantastic performance, even in the first half I thought he was excellent down back. Then to go forward and nearly drag us over the line... nearly though.
"I dare say the backline coach will be saying 'nah he's really important here' and then I'm pretty sure the forward coach will be saying 'you can't be serious he has to play forward'.
"We'll look at the other players who are available and how we want to set the game up. We'll do some scouting during the week, I really don't know."
The Hawks' hopes of notching up their first win of the year could be buoyed next week, with Bruest potentially returning from a groin injury that has hampered his start to the year.
Breust was ruled out of the trip to Adelaide for Gather Round but could be back in the frame come Round 5 as he looks to get through training over the next six days.
Mitchell said it's a matter of caution for the triple-premiership forward, whose experience was sorely missed on Sunday.
"My understanding is he's just lost a lot of power, so we really just have to unload him and make sure that he's not putting any more force through it for a little while," Mitchell said.
"The two six-day breaks mean by the time he knows he's not playing there's only ten days between that game and the next one. So he's some chance and if he's available, he'll come into the side.
"We'll wait and see, he's got a few more days of recovery before we ask him to train. He would've been helpful today, just another wise head in front of the ball.
"We were very young today, we played a very young side and I think we had six or seven players who hadn't played 20 games. So when you have that many you just don't know how to handle those close situations quite as well as Collingwood. They're obviously well-versed."
The Hawks head to Queensland next week to face the Suns on Saturday night, carrying a 0-4 record into the match.
