FOR THE second week in a row our effort was there but we still couldn’t take home the four points.

As for finding out our reasons for losing, it's not as simple as highlighting certain moments in the game. We have to get our fundamentals right and take advantage of our opportunities.

If you’re not prepared to do a really good job of defending an attacking team like Port Adelaide you are not going to come away with the points.

We are starting to play better footy and we’re getting to the pointy end of the season. There are a number of teams jostling for a spot in the eight and Port Adelaide was no different. We just didn’t get the job done.

Some have said that Lance Franklin’s 2.7 meant he had a poor day but he did so many other things right that kept us in the game. Buddy played some pretty good attacking footy but it wasn’t his day in front of goals.

It’s an exciting week for him as he plays his 100th AFL game this week.

The guy has a super ability and has provided the Hawthorn faithful with a lot of highlights over his five seasons. He is going to get some great support for this milestone and it is a credit to him.

Lance came down to the club at the end of 2004 and I was one of the older players at that stage.

I helped mentor him for his first couple of years at the Hawks and it has been rewarding seeing him grow into the player he is today.

I’d like to wish him all the best and congratulate him on this achievement. But we won’t let that be the main focus and I know that come Saturday when the game has started, I’m know the boys will have the four points on their mind.

This week we have the biggest challenge of all – the undefeated Saints.

I spent the last two years as an assistant coach at St Kilda and while I know a number of individuals well, they have set up a different defensive structure this year which has held them in very good stead. They haven’t had to make many changes because they have had such a healthy list.

All those things put together means they are playing some really good footy.

Usually playing at Aurora Stadium is an advantage to us – it is our home ground and we love playing down there. But the Saints used to play down there as well so most of their guys know the ground.

It should be a cracking game.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.