HAWTHORN’S Stuart Dew could be a chance to play against the Bulldogs in Launceston on Saturday. The former Port Adelaide premiership player left the field in the second quarter of the club’s 19-point victory over Melbourne due to a hamstring complaint but Hawks’ defender Stephen Gilham has said his withdrawal was purely “precautionary”. Dew has already missed four rounds due to a hamstring injury this year.

“He had a bit of tightness during the game and it was probably smart on Dewy’s behalf that he came off, he was pretty precautionary about it. They’ll just monitor him during the week,” Gilham said.

The 23-year-old defender insisted that the Hawks aren’t feeling any extra pressure now that they are the only undefeated side in the competition.

“It’s unchartered water for us as a side, being on top of the ladder and being undefeated this year but again… it’s a learning process that we need to go through and hopefully we keep improving each week.”

However he did admit that the close call with the Demons was a bit of a wake up call for the club.

“We’re always trying to improve our game and that showed at the weekend that we’ve still got a lot of improvement left in us. In previous years we might have let that game slip. Obviously we’re a maturing side and we’ve learned how to deal with those things during the game and get through it.”

Despite the fact that the Hawks were without Shane Crawford and Ben McGlynn due to suspension, Gilham said the coach is still backing the young side’s aggressive approach.

“It’s up to us to fly the flag and live on the edge a little bit but not go silly and get reported. Clarko (Alastair Clarkson) is behind us and if they (the opposition) target certain players we have to stand up for each other.”

Gilham said the Hawks will be wary of the Bulldogs who, having lost so narrowly to North Melbourne, will be keen to make amends.

“You never like playing against sides that have narrowly lost. They’ll analyse their game during the week like we’ll do with out game. They’ll be keen to atone (for it) this week.

“Sides will come after us and that’s a good thing. We have to deal with that type of pressure. We still feel as though we’re maturing and learning as a side all our young guys are.”