Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston concedes that the Hawks only played a quarter-and-a-half of “good footy” in their loss to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
Despite trailing by 30 points at three quarter time, the Bulldogs ran over the top of the Hawks in a dramatic final term.
But Gunston says there are two ways of looking at the side’s spotty form throughout the Round 2 encounter.
“There’s a lot of positives in that, but also there’s a lot of negatives – especially in that last quarter where we let them kick nine goals to one,” Gunston said on Tuesday.
“That hasn’t happened too many times while I’ve been here.
“It was disappointing from the coaching staff to the players and everyone else involved that we let that happen.”
Injuries to two important players also became a factor in the Hawks loss, with Shaun Burgoyne and Liam Shiels both succumbing to hamstring injuries in the third quarter.
Gunston said the club was still awaiting the results of scans on the injured pair, but predicted that a cautious approach would be taken.
“You don’t want to be rushing blokes back at the start of the year.
“We will wait and see but we will be careful with them that’s for sure.”
One name that may be in line to come in to face North Melbourne this Sunday is Chad Wingard.
The former Port Adelaide player has endured an interrupted pre-season due to calf troubles but is edging closer to his return and a debut in the brown and gold.
“Chad is going really well on the track at the moment, whether he plays this week or next week I’m not too sure.
“But the philosophy has always been, lose a soldier and replace him with another one and we have a really strong system here so we’re confident anyone can step in at any time.”
