COLLINGWOOD isn't losing sleep over its inaccuracy in front of goal on Friday night against Hawthorn, but midfielder Dale Thomas says there has been some extra kicking practice nonetheless. 

The Magpies lost a decided advantage in the opening term against the Hawks when they kicked 2.7, with Travis Cloke, Chris Dawes, Darren Jolly and Alex Fasolo all squandering shots on goal.

The Hawks booted 2.1 in response, and were able to remain in the game despite the Pies' heavy dominance of inside 50 entries.

Thomas said it wasn't time for panic stations after one game but admitted it had been touched on at training since the 22-point loss.

"It hasn't been discussed at length. We did a bit of practice at goal kicking the other day," he said on Tuesday.

"Nobody means to miss but it was just the way it was.

"Obviously if you can kick more goals than points, it puts you in a pretty good position. and in that first quarter there we blew a few chances that could have set us up a little bit better, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

"If it happens again for the next 10 weeks, maybe we'll address it then."

Thomas said the review of the game had included a mixture of positive and negative feedback.

Directly after the loss, coach Nathan Buckley was encouraged by signs in the first three and a half quarters and attributed the final-term fadeout to having seven inexperienced players in the team.

"I don't think he was overly pleased with the fact we lost, but in saying that there were some good parts to the game," Thomas said.

"He just tried to emphasise the fact that we didn't play that great and got within a few kicks at the end of the game against a really good side."

Meanwhile, Thomas said captain Nick Maxwell's chances of playing against Richmond on Saturday night were "higher than [they were] last week".

Maxwell missed the first round with the ankle injury he sustained in the final round of the NAB Cup against St Kilda.

Other players in contention for selection this week include Chris Tarrant, Dayne Beams, Ben Johnson and Cameron Wood, who returned from injury in the VFL on Saturday.

Thomas said Alan Didak, who didn't play at any level, was expected to play 'somewhere' this weekend.

Sharrod Wellingham has one more week to serve from his club suspension for drinking while injured and missing a rehabilitation session.

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.