AFTER knocking off West Coast in Perth last Saturday night, the Hawks have closed the gap to the second-placed Eagles to just two points.
Vice-captain Jarryd Roughead said the side took plenty of confidence from the interstate triumph, but hopes to avoid a return trip during the first week of finals by securing a top-two berth.
"It will mean a home (qualifying) final. I don't think you want to go interstate if you were to finish in the bottom two of the top four," he said.
"We proved on the weekend we can go across there and win … but obviously a home final at the MCG is what you're gunning for.
"I think we've won two out of the last three in terms of going to Perth, so we don't mind going across there and playing footy."
Roughead's press conference was a birthday surprise for 100-year-old Hawks' member Eileen Grigg, who celebrated her century yesterday, and he surprised her with a cake and special guernsey with the number 100.
The press conference was held outside Eileen's home in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
The star Hawk is Eileen's favourite player - she has been a Hawks' member for 24 consecutive years and even showed Roughead her letter from the Queen.
The Hawks face arch-rivals Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night. It will be Roughead's fifth game back after a melanoma scare on his lip.
Roughead said he's been given the all-clear after having the melanoma cut out, but has to remain extra vigilant with check-ups.
"Probably over the last two weeks I got given the all-clear, so I've got heavy surveillance over the next few years, which is good," he said.
"I'm eating properly now, the only thing I guess is bigger mouthfuls – my mouth's tightened up a little bit.
"The good thing is that a lot of the other boys have gone and got checked after this little scare for me."
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