DEFENDER Josh Gibson says Lance Franklin played a selfless role in the opening half of last night’s Qualifying Final win over Collingwood.

Franklin was kept quiet by Collingwood defender Chris Tarrant in the opening half, before the Hawks spearhead booted a goal on the half time siren to give the Hawks the momentum and an 18-point lead at the long break.

Gibson says Franklin’s ability to deal with the attention he was copping from Tarrant and his fellow Magpies defenders was a credit to the 25-year-old.

“To Bud’s credit he took it on the chin and went about playing his role,” Gibson said of the attention Franklin was given at the Brighton Sea Baths on Saturday morning.

“In the first half of the game there was a lot of sacrificial acts he did, which brought our small forwards into the game.

“He kept working away and then when it was his chance in the second half he took (it).

“I thought it was a really good effort by him.”

He was less eager to talk about his own game, however, with the defender among Hawthorn's best in the 38-point win.

Gibson was able to zone off his opponent, Magpie Chris Dawes to be third man up at the contest in front of Travis Cloke.

He finished the game with 16 spoils.

 The reliable defender said that he was just happy to play his role in an important match for the Club.

“I’m not too sure how many I had,” Gibson said of his 16 spoils.

“I just try to play to our style of play and that’s my role in the side. 

“I just try and do that to the best of my ability to make it predictable to our other defenders and our midfielders.”

The Hawks now enjoy a week off before taking on any one of Adelaide, Sydney, Geelong and Fremantle for a spot in this year’s grand final.

Gibson says the playing group will take the opportunity to rehabilitate and identify areas in which it needs to improve.

“We’ll get back, review the game and work on the areas where we think we’ll need to lift and get the body right,” he said.

“It’s a great chance to do a little bit of rehab.

“It gives us the time to assess bloke’s bodies and prepare well.”

Midfielder Jordan Lewis was a late withdrawal from Friday night’s Qualifying Final with a hamstring injury.

He is expected to be fit for the Hawks’ Preliminary Final in two weeks.

“Getting next week off it’s going to be great for his hammy,” Gibson said.

“That’ll give us two weeks and let’s dare say he’ll be fit and raring to go.”

Brendan Whitecross will undergo scans on Saturday morning after injuring his knee in the opening minutes of the match.