HAWTHORN ruckman Max Bailey is benefiting from an unusual type of training, one that's aiding his movement and stability on the football field.

Introduced by ruck coach Damian Monkhorst, Hawthorn's big men have been playing regular games of muck-around basketball in the club's Waverley Park gym.

The former Collingwood champion's idea came after comparing the movements of ruckmen such as Bailey, who has endured three knee reconstructions in his 16-game, five-and-a-half year career, with those of top-level basketballers.

While the 206cm Hawk looked noticeably "tall and straight", Monkhorst saw men of similar size on the basketball court moving fluently in all directions.

"In basketball you've got six-foot-eight blokes that have a lot of agility, whereas our guys are a little bit more able to run, but they don't move side-to-side as well as basketballers, so it's something that I saw that could help," Monkhorst told afl.com.au this week.

"From watching [Bailey] play, having a look at his vision and watching him train, it just came to my mind that maybe we could try and get him a little bit lower."

By getting down low and quickening their footwork, Monkhorst hoped the players could learn to change direction with greater ease.

He said Bailey had noticed an improvement.

"It helps him [Bailey] get up on his toes a bit more and be a bit more stable, and able to move side-to-side comfortably, instead of being rigid or stiff in the legs," Monkhorst said.

"It's given him a little bit more freedom in his movement."

Monkhorst retired from the AFL in 2000 after 205 games with the Magpies and 10 for St Kilda.

He now works two days a week with Hawthorn, also attending matches when it doesn't clash with his other commitment as playing coach of Woori Yallock, his junior club.

The 1990 premiership ruckman sees a bright future ahead for his 24 year-old star student.

"He [Bailey] is a talented young fella," Monkhorst said.

"You've got to remember he's only 15 or 16 games into his career.

"He may be a little bit older just because of the time it's taken him to get his body right, but he's still young in terms of football experience.

"So he's still learning the AFL movement and where you've got to go and what you've got to do."

Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawks news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan.