Coach Alastair Clarkson has a simple solution to Hawthorn's struggles with the AFL crackdown on prohibited contact - don't do it.
The Hawks went to the league after Sunday's loss to the Western Bulldogs, which was punctuated by controversial free kicks.
In particular, the crucial free that Hawthorn defender James Sicily gave away in the last quarter attracted plenty of media commentary.
The AFL has since sent an email to all clubs saying those sorts of frees will continue to be paid.
"The best clarity I got is just don't do it, that's the best advice we can give to our players," Clarkson said.
"We'll toe the line and be better in that space.
"We got that clarification and then the safest option is to not engage in any of that type of play off the ball."
Clarkson noted there was an absence of incidents such as the Sicily free in Thursday night's Geelong-Adelaide clash.
He also confirmed on Friday that provided Chad Wingard makes it through Saturday training, the Port Adelaide recruit will make his Hawthorn debut in Sunday's MCG clash against North Melbourne.
It will follow Tom Scully's first game for the Hawks in the loss to the Bulldogs.
While Wingard can play through the midfield, Clarkson expects him to spend most time in attack as he fits in at his new team.
"He's unlikely to play much midfield time. We might pinch-hit him occasionally and that might might happen on Sunday, but by and large we just need to get him used to playing with his teammates," Clarkson said.
North, like Hawthorn, are coming off a loss where there were plenty of momentum shifts.
The Kangaroos faded late against Brisbane, much like Hawthorn could not finish off the Bulldogs.
"She was a little bit like our game, pretty topsy-turvy," Clarkson said of North's defeat.
"I looked at the game and with no disrespect to Brisbane or Fages (coach Chris Fagan), I felt North could easily have won.
"But they fell away in the last part of the game, a little bit like we did.
"Both the games would be really hard to scout."
