HAWTHORN has told its players to avoid any untoward acts after Josh Gibson's second fine for striking this year put him on a Match Review Panel tightrope for the rest of 2015.
Gibson received a $1500 fine for striking Carlton midfielder Blaine Boekhorst in the stomach last Friday night at Etihad Stadium, having been fined $1000 for a similar offence against Adelaide's Charlie Cameron in round 12.
Under this year's new MRP guidelines, Gibson faces a one-match suspension if he commits another minor offence this season that would normally attract a fine.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson told reporters on Thursday that in the wake of Gibson's latest penalty the club had warned all of its players to avoid undisciplined acts off the ball, mindful that they could result in suspensions for key games.
"We've spoken to all of our players. It's not something that we go into the game intending to do," Clarkson said.
"We want to play tough, hard footy, but little untoward and undisciplined acts off the ball aren't something that we want to be about, and sometimes the emotion of the game gets the better of our players.
"Josh copped the penalty through the Match Review (Panel) for something that was untoward and we don't encourage that, so we've had a chat to them knowing full well that another incident like that will probably mean a one-week suspension for him.
"Whether it's a final or it's just a home and away game, we don't want any of our guys sitting in the grandstand. [Josh is] pretty disappointed he got caught up in that situation last week."
Clarkson said key defender James Frawley was one of a number of players in the mix to return for the clash against Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.
Frawley dislocated his shoulder in round 13 against Essendon but returned in the VFL last weekend, playing the first half of Box Hill's clash with Werribee.
The former Demon and Ben Stratton, who missed last Friday night's win over Carlton with a minor ankle injury, shape as the most likely replacements for injured key defender Matt Spangher (hamstring).
But Clarkson said the backline duo would have to impress at training on Thursday to earn recalls, with Liam Shiels (quad) and Taylor Duryea (shoulder) in the same boat.
The Hawks coach said his players were really looking forward to taking on fifth-placed Richmond, saying the game offered the chance "to test ourselves against one of the form sides of the competition".
In his post-match press conference after last week's record 138-point thumping of Carlton, Clarkson said the rout had not been the ideal preparation for the Tigers clash.
But he said on Thursday the huge win had been better preparation than he initially thought, as the "open and uncontested" nature of the game had helped the Hawks' conditioning "enormously", with their players forced to "really test" themselves aerobically.
Richmond will wear its indigenous jumper against the Hawks in a show of support for Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes, who will not play this week after being worn down by the relentless crowd booing he has copped in recent seasons.
Clarkson said the Hawks would not wear their indigenous jumpers against the Tigers, saying it was a "shame" but unavoidable because the two teams' jumpers would have clashed.
Hawthorn has spent some time with its indigenous players this week to discuss Goodes' "unsavoury" treatment, with all five of them emphasising they didn't want the issue to become "black versus white".
Clarkson said these players believed the controversy had highlighted the need to "celebrate the diversity within our culture".
