Geelong coach Mark Thompson is confident the goal-kicking yips that hampered Cameron Mooney in last year's AFL grand final are not back to haunt him.

The Cats' wayward kicking in the 2008 decider was a huge factor in their upset loss to Hawthorn, going down by 26 points despite having nine more scoring shots.

Key forward Mooney was a culprit, and his kicking was worryingly off-target again in Saturday night's comfortable preliminary final win over Collingwood.

He made two dismal attempts on goal from close range in the first term, and while he thumped through an important goal in the third quarter, it was not the prettiest of kicks.

But Thompson says the crucial big man's confidence has not taken an untimely hit.

"I spoke to him at quarter time last week and he said `I'm fine mate, if I get the ball I'm going to have a go at it,'" Thompson said on Tuesday.

"He's in a really good space at the moment, he not only marked the ball, he kicked a (goal) for us and a couple of points as well.

"But his defensive stuff for us, his liveliness and his leadership on the ground, particularly in the forward line have been invaluable."

A better sign is the solid preliminary final form of Mooney's young fellow attacking target Tom Hawkins.

The 21-year-old has been rated a star in the making since creating a big impression with eye-catching performances in his first two AFL games in early 2007.

But it has only been this year that he has regularly shown signs of living up to that potential and played every game from round two, including his first finals matches.

He will almost certainly be the Cats' only first-time grand finalist and Thompson said last weekend's good form was important.

"He needs confidence, Tommy, there's no question he needed to play well," he said.

"It's great that he did it at times this year, but to do it in a final again is just another big thing for him.

"We're really pleased that he played well in a final and we always knew it was going to be a long-term project with Tommy and he's not there yet.

"I'm not sure what sort of a game he's going to have, but he's going to play it and eventually I think he'll turn into a very good player for the Geelong footy club and one of the stars of the AFL hopefully."

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