GUIDANCE from champion Sam Mitchell is helping impressive utility Daniel Howe feel more at home in Hawthorn's star-studded side this season.
The Murray Bushrangers product has strung together some encouraging form in recent weeks and appears another major tick for the Hawks' recruiting department, who swooped on him with pick No.31 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
Having taken some promising steps in his debut year, Howe is already in the conversation about Hawthorn's best side and he continues to soak up knowledge from the Hawks' premiership veterans.
"There's so many great outlets you can seek out. Sam Mitchell has probably been the biggest one for me, but also Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson," Howe told Crocmedia.
"(Having) those sort of guys around the club makes a massive difference on game day and learning your craft on the track.
"It definitely helps."
Howe collected 19 touches and laid five tackles in last Saturday's win over the Dockers, building on 16 and 14-disposal efforts against Richmond and GWS respectively.
Having an extended run in the side is boosting the 20-year-old's confidence, after he struggled to hold down a spot early in the year.
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"Obviously breaking into the side is a bit harder (than some other clubs), but the rewards come when you do actually break into it," Howe said.
"I was a bit up-and-down early in the season. I was in one week and out the other.
"But I've strung a few games together, which is nice, and hopefully that continues because the more I play the more comfortable I feel at the level."
Howe made four appearances in his debut season, finishing with a career-high 21 touches in the final round win over Carlton at the MCG.
The versatile 191cm youngster missed out on the Hawks' finals campaign, but gained invaluable experience in Box Hill's run to a third consecutive VFL Grand Final appearance.
Now Howe's determined to entrench himself in the senior side, as coach Alastair Clarkson regenerates the ageing list and simultaneously plots a history-making fourth flag tilt.
"We're in a pretty good position (at 6-2). We've obviously lost some games and are not playing as great footy as we would've liked, but we're starting to get there and playing some good patches," Howe said.
"We kicked eight goals in (the third) quarter on the weekend.
"It's just a matter of doing that consistently and putting four-quarter performances in on the weekends."