However, his forced sit-down after fouling out against Brisbane on Friday, and coach Rob Beveridge’s post-match comments, were interesting to say the least.

Ogilvy’s foul trouble forced Nick Kay into the five spot where he finished with 16 points, six boards and five assists with his ability to pass out of the low block and run the floor as good as any big in the league.

Kay’s ability to clock minutes in the five spot could also open up more floor time for sharp-shooters Cody Ellis and Oscar Forman which has been a difficult juggling match for Beveridge all season.

It’s unlikely to remain effective for long periods but, with back-up centre Michael Holyfield currently spelling Ogilvy for just 12 minutes a game, Beveridge indicated his side could play more “small-ball” heading into the pointy end of the season.

“I think it worked really well, particularly with Cody [Ellis] as well,” Beveridge said.

“I thought Cody came in and defensively did a great job and passed the ball really well. It’s one of those things where I’ve got three players [Ellis, Kay and Oscar Forman] in the same position.

“With Nick I know, day-in day-out, what I’m going to get so it’s probably easiest to play Nick [in the five].

“It’s a big strength of us how deep we are but it’s also hard to try and get everyone in and contributing the way we probably want them to.”

As for Ogilvy, Beveridge said he will need to discuss discipline with his star centre this week.

If the reigning All-NBL first team rep had fouled out of a game last year, particularly as early as he did against the Bullets, the Hawks would almost certainly have lost the game.

They’re clearly better equipped to cover him should he get in foul trouble this season but whether he can capture the form that took him to within hair’s breadth of league MVP honours last season remains the biggest question mark hanging over the Hawks.

His numbers this season are far from shabby – I’m sure plenty of his rivals would take his 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game – but at his best, Ogilvy is the best big-man in the league. Beveridge said after the win over Brisbane that that is the Ogilvy the Hawks need to make an impression come finals time.

“At the end of the day he’s our franchise player so I do have very high expectations of AJ as he does of himself,” Beveridge said.

“We can’t have him fouling out of games particularly through lack of discipline. I don’t exactly what he did to get the tech foul but we’ll obviously talk about it.

“He’s not a guy who really goes off too much and swears and that sort of thing, he probably internalises a lot of it and talks to himself.

“He is our franchise player and we’re trying to build a club around him so I’m sure he’ll be pretty disappointed in himself and hopefully he’ll bounce back next week.”