Thompson said the Hawks, who have won a sole match since their coach claimed they would win the 2004 premiership, might even be spurred on by the off-field misdemeanours of Danny Jacobs and Lance Picioane.
“I think it all just compounds and it probably galvanises the group a little bit. Any playing group at any club in the same circumstances, they try and gel together and galvanise and try and play good footy,” Thompson said before the Cats trained at Skilled Stadium on Wednesday.
“If they’ve got pride, which they certainly have, they’re going to want to come out and play well. And really, the first quarter will be on and we’ve got to be very aware of that because they’re pretty desperate for a win.”
Thompson will stress to his side the importance of starting well in the twilight match on Sunday.
“I certainly will be (stressing it) this week because Hawthorn, going through their stats, they probably haven’t done that well in the first quarters so I think it will be a really big focus for the Hawthorn footy club this week.”
“And we want to do well so we’ve got to make it a pretty big focus too,” he said.
Thompson added that Brent Moloney, who went to hospital during last weekend’s match after a heavy clash to his ribs, would play this weekend. However he did not move freely during the Cats’ light training run.
Veteran Peter Riccardi is expected to play after being a late withdrawal last week due to a buttock complaint, but did not complete the entire session. Gary Ablett did not finish the session either, and received some medical attention to a thumb on the sidelines.
Thompson said vice-captain Cameron Ling had precautionary x-rays on his arm this week after an injury scare in the opening quarter against the Crows, but that no damage was revealed.
Geelong is gearing Steven King for his long awaited return in round eight, when the side meets the in-form Demons. King is yet to complete a full training session since damaging his achilles.
