LUKE Breust says extra goal kicking practice over the pre-season is behind his outstanding start to the year in front of goal.

The Hawthorn small forward is currently the equal leading goal kicker in the AFL (tied with Saints captain Nick Riewoldt), having kicked 10.1 in his opening three games.

In his first two seasons, Breust was one of Hawthorn’s most reliable goal kickers, converting at 66.6 per cent in 2011 and 64.2 per cent in 2012 but that efficiency dropped last season.

In 2013, Breust kicked 40.30 – a conversion rate of 57.1 per cent for the season but that dropped significantly from Round 15 onwards.

In that game, Breust 1.2 against Geelong and went on to kick 14.15 for the remainder of the season, where his conversion dropped to an career-low 48.3 per cent.

Breust had missed just once in his first three games of 2014, converting at 90 per cent.

This season, the dynamic small forward has kicked five goals in Round 1, two in Round 2 and three in last Friday night’s 58-point win over Fremantle.

At present, there is no better player in the AFL in front of goal than Luke Breust.

Of the top 10 goal kickers in the AFL, Breust has the best conversion rate and he says it can be attributed to a pre-season focus on improving his routine.

“I’ve worked a little bit over pre-season on my set shots, which we down a little bit last year,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“To kick that well on Friday night, I was pretty happy.”

But it’s not all about kicking goals for the Hawthorn premiership player.

Like teammates Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo, Breust says he’s in the team to pressure the opposition and keep the ball inside his team’s forward half.

“I’ll just keep playing my role, keep putting the forward pressure on that Clarko wants me to and I’m sure things will happen after that,” he said.

Breust is also spending more time in the midfield and along with his 3.3 goal a game average, is also picking up 20 disposals per game.

Not only has his goal kicking improved, but also his ability to handle the ball cleanly in high-pressure situations.

He was outstanding in the dying stages of the Round 2 win over Essendon by providing a cool head and clean hands under pressure inside 50 to kick a crucial goal and set up another.

That was another focus he said, over the pre-season.

“I’ve been doing some midfield stuff with Cameron Bruce and Brett Ratten where I’ve worked on my hands that when I do go into the midfield, I’ve got a bit better touch around the clinches,” he said.

“You don’t want to fumble in there because you don’t get too many second chances when you’re in the thick of it.”

Breust said the team’s opening quarter against premiership fancies Fremantle was as good as it gets.

The Hawks kicked six first quarter goals to one to lead by five goals at the first change – a lead the Dockers would never overcome.

“That first quarter was something special,” he said.

“Coming off a disappointing second half last week, we wanted to come out and show the footy world what we’re capable of and get back to the footy that proved so good in 2013.

“We just wanted to win the hunt and contested ball inside because the midfield battle was going to be so crucial.

“To come out and start the way we did was a really good way to start the game and put pressure on them straight away.”