HAWTHORN midfielder Travis Tuck says he will pay little attention to the “big dogs” of the side and instead continue to focus on what he can control – such as his own form – as he strives to win a spot in the Hawks’ round one team.

A week after impressing against Melbourne in a NAB Cup match in Launceston, the 21-year-old was again prominent on the stats sheet in his side’s quarter-final loss of the pre-season competition.

Tuck collected 29 disposals and laid six tackles against Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday and said he was enjoying his chance to press for a more permanent spot in the Hawks’ line-up.

“It’s good to get a bit of the ball, and it’s always good to be playing up in the seniors instead of Box Hill,” Tuck said after the match.

“It was good to get a bit of the ball and be in there with the midfielders but obviously it would have been good to win as well.”

Tuck rotated through the middle and off the wing, playing on the likes of Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson and one of the competition’s superstars.

“I brushed shoulders with the main man, with Juddy a little bit, which is always good to play on someone like that,” Tuck said.

“You get a bit of experience, like where to start on him, starting positions, where he goes, where he runs, stuff like that.”

Tuck said a couple of senior appearances had whet his appetite for more AFL action.

“Obviously with a few injuries I’ve got a bit of an opportunity to play in the NAB Cup with the senior boys and I’ve just got to grab my opportunity. It’s as simple as that.
 
“Round one of the real season’s the big game, so when we get all the big dogs back with Franko (Lance Franklin) and Hodgey (Luke Hodge), that’s when it’ll get a bit more serious.”

Tuck said he had to keep his own head down and continue to work hard in coming weeks. With the knowledge that a couple of premiership players are set to make their returns in coming weeks, continued solid form is a must if he is to win a berth against the Cats in round one.

“I’ve got to get my hands on the footy and show that I can match it with the big boys,” he said.

“I think the last couple of weeks I’ve managed to do that in patches a little bit here and there, so I’ve just got to impress the coaches and go from there.

“I can only control what I do, and that’s playing good footy.”

Dream Team watch – Travis Tuck, a $276,200 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009, scored 99 points against Carlton on Sunday.