JUST five games out from playing his 300th AFL match, Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford says he's enjoying the thrill of playing alongside some "freakish" teammates.

The 33-year-old turned on his own sideshow in the second term of yesterday's 65-point win over Collingwood, dancing around Magpies livewire Leon Davis and kicking to the top of the goal square, where Mark Williams pounced and goaled for the Hawks.

"You just want to get the ball to them up forward because you know they'll use it so well," he said after the match.

"It's very, very exciting playing with not only good players, but players who back themselves and have a lot of confidence in their own ability.

"Even at training you get excited with some of the things these guys can do. Normally you just get out there and do the work, but to see the way they go about it and some of the freakish things they can do … they're exceptional players."

Crawford finished with 25 disposals and four marks, but heads into the break knowing there's more hard work ahead for a team he believes is just starting to gel.

"It's nice to have a little bit of a break and reflect on it, but as soon as you get happy with yourself you get a kick in the backside and things don't work out," he said.

"We're very conscious that we've still got a lot of work to do and I believe we can still improve a lot."

Crawford's pace and pinpoint delivery into the forward line helped set up several goals yesterday, including a long handball to first-year player Cyril Rioli, who chipped across to Lance Franklin, who put the Hawks 47-points ahead.

For most of the afternoon Crawford had Irish import Marty Clarke shadowing him, but had the better of his younger opponent.

Crawford, who coach Alastair Clarkson said was an "elder statesman" of the club, said milestones were far from his mind as the club prepares for an assault on the finals.

"I'm not playing footy to play as many games as I can," he said.

"We've been struggling for many years and you can see this group improving. I want to be involved … we've been through some really tough times and I appreciate every game we play."

While he can't recall playing many games of late in front of 75,000 people, Crawford was thankful to the Collingwood fans for making yesterday's win a little sweeter.

"We don't often play in front of big crowds and we thought it was a great opportunity to come up against a good side in a finals-like atmosphere."