While most Hawthorn fans would have been on the edge of their seats in the last quarter of Sunday's clash with Carlton, key back James Sicily was loving the high-pressure conditions.
The lead changed three times in the final term, with the Blues cutting the margin to just six points with four minutes remaining.
The Hawks eventually held on for a five-point win.
"That's probably when footy's the most fun, when the game is on the line. What you do next [has an impact] on the outcome of the game, so that's when footy's most fun," Sicily told RSN on Monday.
"It was pretty chaotic there, with heaps of numbers. It actually makes it easier as a defender when there's 30 players in the forward half, because it's pretty hard to take a mark."
The introduction of the 6-6-6 rule, among others, has had an impact for defenders in particular this season, given how quickly the ball can enter forward 50 from a centre bounce.
Sicily was asked if he had noticed any changes on-field this season, and his answer may not have overly thrilled coach Alasdair Clarkson.
"I don't know. I don't pay that much attention, I just go out and play," Sicily said with a laugh.
"It sounds like it's a lot more defensive nowadays."
The 24-year-old gave away a free kick for an off-the-ball shove on Josh Schache in the dying minutes of the team's loss to the Western Bulldogs, a ruling which has appeared to have been relaxed in the weeks since round two.
"It was very interesting early days. I wouldn't say I've changed much – at that time the umpires were really cracking down on it, they were just paying everything," he said.
"Now, it feels like it's balanced itself out a bit. I haven't really changed much to be honest.
"I've done a lot of work on not being too emotional during games, not getting wound up and just keeping a level head. I feel like I've done a little bit better in that department."
Carlton stunned Hawthorn by kicking eight of the game's first 10 goals and went to half-time with a 31-point lead.
The Hawks responded in style after the main break to win, aided by three Blues injuries to veteran Kade Simpson (hamstring), ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and running half-back Nic Newman (leg).
Sicily said Clarkson was matter-of-fact when he addressed the team after the poor opening half.
"We actually didn't cop a spray from 'Clarko', which was surprising. He just reinforced that if they can kick eight goals to three (in a half), then we can do it.
"We just reset and went again and tried to play the way we wanted to play. We just needed to be stronger in the midfield and build some pressure.
"We base our game on pressure and I thought we didn't really bring that in the first half, but then Jaeger (O'Meara) and Liam Shiels really stood up in the second half, we won some more stoppages and started getting the ball going our way."
