HAWTHORN superboot Matt Suckling says the harsh reality of almost being dropped set off a chain of events that helped him restore faith in his kicking.
The damaging left-footer was omitted leading into the Hawks' round nine meeting with Gold Coast, and admits his confidence to hit targets was shot to pieces after a disappointing start to 2015.
Coach Alastair Clarkson told Suckling at the time he needed to recalibrate his radar before returning to the senior side, but a last-minute reprieve against the Suns turned his season around.
With the shackles released, the premiership-winning Hawk gathered 28 touches and booted a goal in one of his best outings this year.
"The first five or six weeks (of the season) were pretty scratchy; I wasn't too happy with that," Suckling told AFL.com.au.
"When I found out I was probably going to be dropped it released some shackles … I've been playing like a free spirit, and it's worked.
"I sort of live and die by the sword (with my kicking). I think confidence was the main thing.
"I wasn't backing myself, and when you second-guess yourself I suppose you turn it over, and that was what was happening. It was coming back in my face.
"So I've just got the confidence back, and I'm going well now."
Searching for answers to his kicking issues, Suckling knuckled down on the training track and watched some highlights showing why Champion Data rated him the fifth-best kick in the AFL last year.
"I got a highlights tape made up of the last few years and I watched myself doing good things and I got good, positive thoughts going through my mind," he said.
"I think the last few weeks I've been playing pretty well, and hopefully that continues."
Since the Suns game, Suckling has averaged nearly 20 touches and a goal across six matches, despite twice starting in the green substitute's vest.
He was particularly influential in last Sunday's 72-point belting of Fremantle, helping slice open the Dockers with 24 disposals – 18 of them kicks – and 11 marks.
The 187cm running utility hailed that win as Hawthorn's first four-quarter performance for the season, and knows it will take a similar effort to get the better of the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
"They're a great side and obviously going up there makes it even harder," Suckling said.
"They obviously got us at the start of the year, so it will be nice to go up there and get the four points. They're above us on the ladder and we're trying to chase them down."
The Swans upset the Hawks in a four-point thriller at the MCG in round eight, but the reigning premiers have since won six in a row to climb into fourth spot on the ladder.
Victory could lift Hawthorn as high as second after this round, in prime position to host a sought-after home qualifying final.
"We think playing on the MCG in the finals would help us, but we've travelled before and won away," Suckling said.
"It wouldn't be too bad, but it's always nice to stay at home."
