Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was transparent about where Calsher Dear stood in his development.
Dear has been redeployed to defence in recent weeks in the VFL, and will spend a third match for Box Hill inside the defensive 50 this weekend against Footscray.
The father-son Hawk has struggled to cement his spot in the senior side in the past two seasons after an impressive debut season, playing 13 games in the past 18 months after 17 in 2024.
"I'm not concerned," Mitchell said on SEN.
"I had a really good chat with him this week, and he's going to play again in defence this week. That will be his third game, then there's a bye.
"We want to keep designing his career and make sure we develop him as fast as possible. It was interesting, after his first game as a defender, he learned a few things about playing forward. 'I must be easy to play on because I don't do that.
"In his second game, he worked out how to play against it a little bit better, and now this will be a third game as a defender."
He gathered 15 disposals and eight marks in his first game as a defender, and backed it up with 17 touches and six marks last week.
"Really, I don't see him long-term as a defender, but can he become a better forward by having a few weeks playing in defence to try give himself that understanding of how good forwards play, and how difficult it is when there's early movement," Mitchell added.
"If you watch the Jack Gunstons of the world, how much movement they do before the ball even comes to them. He's (Dear) is a bit more of a stand-and-deliver guy, so he's learnt, Jack has told me this 100 times, now I really understand it.
"The way we're thinking about it is one step back to take five steps forward. I agree he's too good to be playing VFL footy, and we hope to get him back in once he goes through this development plan."
Dear burst out of the blocks in 2024, playing key roles in Hawthorn's resurgence to premiership contenders.
He slotted 25 goals from 17 starts, including 3.4 in the elimination final win over the Western Bulldogs, but has been plagued with injuries and form dips since.
A competition for spots has forced a squeeze at the Hawks, with Mitchell largely favouring Mitchell Lewis, Jack Gunston and Mabior Chol.
As a result, rival clubs believe Dear, who is out of contract, is gettable, especially given the club's interest in Gold Coast free agent Ben King.
The youngster responded to trade chat in April.
"No. There has been nothing from that article from my manager or me… It's just a story that's come out in the paper. I'm enjoying it. I'm developing still, I'm only 20. Look at everything the Hawks have done for me: it's a really special place for me," he said on Triple M.
