HAWTHORN defender Ryan Schoenmakers continues to improve every week as he learns to handle the competition’s power forwards, fellow backman Ben Stratton says.

Schoenmakers was one of the shining light in the Hawks’ loss to Geelong on Monday, holding Cats power forward James Podsiadly to two goals.

Stratton said Schoenmakers, 22, was benefitting under the tutelage of new Hawk Brian Lake but admitted he was quick to be put under the spotlight.

"He cops a bit in the media," Stratton said on Tuesday night.  

"He’s a good kid and a good character, he’s worked pretty hard over summer and done a few different things and I thought he was one of our best defenders yesterday - (he) definitely kept the big boys pretty quiet down there.

"He’s improved every summer. He takes the big key forwards every week.

"It’s probably not so much his body physique, it’s probably just his game, it’s his body positioning and learning to play those bigger blokes.

"Often they’ve got a bit of height on him, just learning to play those bigger blokes a different way. He’s learning every week, the same as the rest of our backline players. It’s going to help when Lakey comes back and gives us bit of assurance."

Hawthorn's defensive group could be boosted by the return of Lake as early as this weekend, with the former Bulldog a chance to make his debut for his new team.

Lake was a late withdrawal against the Cats.

Stratton said the players had recovered well after the gruelling match at the MCG ahead of their six-day turnaround to Perth to face West Coast.

"I think as a group, we’ve all pulled up pretty well," Stratton said.

"Being round 1 and obviously a pretty high intense game, I think we’ve pulled up pretty well which is important going into West Coast."