HAWTHORN'S injury toll is an opportunity for the Hawks' emerging players to step up, says midfielder Isaac Smith.
Smith bracketed himself among the next tier of players who needed to fill the void left by veterans Sam Mitchell (hamstring), Josh Gibson (torn pectoral), Brian Lake (calf) and Cyril Rioli (hamstring).
After suffering a 14-point defeat to Port Adelaide on Saturday, the Hawks have now lost two games in a row for the first time since the 2012 Grand Final loss to the Sydney Swans and a round one, 2013 loss to Geelong.
Smith, who is 25 and has 71 games under his belt, called on the second-tier Hawks to turn the reigning premiers' form around.
"We've got great depth at the club and I think you've seen that. I think we've debuted five or six players this year and they've really stepped up," Smith said on Monday.
"But the onus is probably on the next level players which is myself and a few other guys that have been around for three or four years to step up and stamp their authority on games. So it's not a huge issue.
"I see it as a great opportunity – especially in the midfield. I think we had two or three players that were under 10 games in the midfield and you've also got (Bradley Hill), who's under 40 games, running through there as well.
"So there's probably only three or four of us that have more than three years' experience so I see it as a great opportunity.
"Hopefully I can step up and so can a couple of others and get some stats.
"It's everything, it's leadership, it's stats, it's being involved in the game, it's helping the younger blokes out (with direction).
"If everyone can do their little bit, lift five per cent then that's going go a huge way to helping us win."
The Hawks regain Jarryd Roughead from suspension this week against Greater Western Sydney, with Rioli and Lake edging closer to their returns.
Rioli continued his rehabilitation program by running about 60 per cent speed in straight-line run-throughs and doing some light skills work at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.
Lake was restricted to walking up and down a grass hill and stairs with compression bandages on both calves.
