HAWTHORN forward Paul Puopolo says he didn't know what was coming when he leapt for what could have been mark of the year against Geelong if he'd held on.

Puopolo set himself at the MCG and launched above ruckman David Hale and tall defenders Harry Taylor and Jared Rivers, getting a double lift and taking the ball on his chest in spectacular fashion.

The explosive small forward fumbled, however, and was disappointed post-match to have just spilled the mark. 

Assistant coach Brett Ratten's tongue in cheek advice in the rooms was "punch when you're behind, 'Poppy'".

"When I was going for it, I couldn't really tell (how high I would get). I just jumped for it and hoped for the best," Puopolo told AFL.com.au. 

"If I get the opportunity to jump, I jump and go for it. I'm not going out there each week trying to take a hanger, I'm just trying to take a mark. 

As far as being aware how high he got, Puopolo said: "I was too busy focusing on the footy to know and I was worried about dropping the mark … I was disappointed I dropped it."

Puopolo, who kicked one goal against the Cats, wasn't rewarded on the scoreboard but he was among the Hawks' best on Saturday night because of his tackling pressure and creative ball use to set up teammates.

He had eight tackles and a game-high three score assists and said he was happy to watch others share the goals, with Cyril Rioli (six), Luke Hodge (four) and Luke Breust (three) the stars.

"Each week we have a different guy bobbing up and kicking a bag of goals and this week it was Cyril," he said.

"'Hodgey' as well. That's what makes us so dangerous, because you don't know who that guy is going to be.

"When the skipper is on like that he's great to watch - but we just play as a structure and the way he was going he was just finding the ball no matter where he went."