HAWTHORN coach Sam Mitchell has explained his inspired decision to move James Sicily forward in the win over Fremantle, saying he had to maximise his captain's talent as he struggled in defence.

Sicily's switch forward at UTAS Stadium on Saturday proved to be a match-winning move as the Hawks boosted their finals chances with a 13-point victory.

With his troublesome shoulder appearing sore in the first half, Sicily was moved forward in the third quarter, and he kicked three goals – including two as the Hawks charged home in the final quarter.

"I think as coaches we're always looking to maximise the talents of our players and I thought he probably wasn't competing quite as well behind the ball. He wasn't having a significant influence," Mitchell said.

"When you have a player of his calibre who is not as dominant as you would like, we obviously have the scope to move him and he's got just an appetite to be in those positions. 

"I was rapt he was able to hit the scoreboard and have a good impact for us in front of the ball."

With their ninth win from their past 12 games, the Hawks are – at the moment – just percentage outside of the top eight.

And their win sets up what is shaping as a monster clash against Collingwood, which is 8-7-2, at the MCG next Saturday. 

"If we looked at the season, obviously started slowly, had some good form, got to the bye, we played West Coast over there and played pretty well, then we go to Geelong and get a touch-up," Mitchell said. 

"This game was in the calendar because this was an important game for us because it keeps us right in the hunt. 

"If you look at the ladder it's pretty close and now it doesn't get any bigger than it's going to be next week."