Hawthorn has let a likely top-four result slip through its fingers against Collingwood.
The Hawks are out of form after a dour effort against Brisbane and backed it up with a frustrating draw against the Pies.
Hawthorn's Tom Barrass is one Hawk who seems to have lost his mojo as the club heads into finals. Coach Sam Mitchell said the key defender isn't carrying any injuries; instead, the 30-year-old is fighting to get out of a rut.
"I'm sure as (Barrass) gets older he is not going to be moving as good as he used to," Mitchell said in the post-game press conference.
"But no, he is not carrying anything. He does some really good stuff for us and he has been really important for us. He did have a couple of moments, I mean if you're full back and you make a couple of mistakes, they usually cost goals and he had a couple of those tonight.
"He's just not quite being as consistent as he would like to be.
"I don't think everyone plays good every week, the difference is when you are the full back everyone notices because your errors cost goals.
"When you're full back you get exposed and it costs you goals especially with the isolation that they played with tonight."
Debutant Max Beattie was a highlight for the Hawks as he lit up the MCG in his first game at the grade.
The 22-year-old mid-season draftee finished with 1.1 from his 10 disposals and a number of efforts that impressed Hawks fans and the coach.
"(Beattie's) a good kid," Mitchell said. "He has got a bit of spark about him and he has got some confidence and some energy. Great for him to get his first goal.
"Talking to him after the game he doesn't know what to feel. He has played in front of a huge crowd, I think he mentioned yesterday the most people he had played in front of was 3000. So it's a big step up for him in intensity. Great for him to get that experience and I thought he looked quite composed.
"He had that run down tackle and the goal, but he also just found a way to play the right way for a lot of that game, so I was pleased with him."
Midfielder Josh Ward's impact has been going under the radar this season.
His influence on games has grown in his fifth year in the AFL, and he collected 20 disposals and two important goals against the Pies.
Mitchell said he has been impressed by the 23-year-old's commitment to improve consistently.
"There is a lot made of 'Wardy'," he said.
"He is such a great person and the way he goes about it is so diligent, he is always in the club early, he is always working on his craft. His improvement, year on year has been significant. I'm not sure if anyone has won Most Improved two years in a row, but he nearly could do that.
"Those two goals he kicked at the start of the last I thought showed a level of maturity you need from your players."
