The Hawthorn coach normally sticks fast to his rule on not making public comment about the dynamic forward, but Franklin's exploits loosened the usually taciturn Clarkson's tongue.
“It’s hard to keep things low key when a guy kicks nine goals,” Clarkson admitted.
“He’s a tremendously resilient player both in the way he handles things on the field and the pressure that he’s under because they know he’s a key target for us up forward.
“Sides drop players back on him, not that Essendon particularly did that tonight, but sometimes he’s got to compete against more than just his direct opponent.
“He’s also remarkably resilient off the field too, it hasn’t been an easy week for him in terms of the publicity, but he’s got a tremendous attitude to his training, loves his footy club, loves his teammates and I think that was reflected in the manner in which he handled today; it was first class.”
Luke Hodge’s first game back from a month out with a hamstring tear was almost as impressive as Buddy’s big night out and also drew the praise of the coach.
“He’s a real warrior and we just love him playing, but we really missed him in the last four weeks … Hopefully that was his first game back of many in the second half of the year,” he said.
“He was very important for us early on because we weren’t moving the ball as well as we would’ve liked and that’s full credit to Essendon. Hodgey kicked three goals in the first half and it’s not just that he’s a talented footballer; [it’s] his leadership and direction and courage.”
The Bombers took it right up to the Hawks in the first half and Clarkson pinpointed the strong efforts of Robert Campbell and Simon Taylor in the ruck as key factors in the second half onslaught that sealed the win.
It was just what the doctor ordered after the Hawks fell to their first loss of the season in round 10, but Clarkson admitted his side isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment.
“We’re pretty pleased to have a victory and I don’t mean to be flippant or arrogant in saying that at this stage of the season you don’t expect to be playing your best footy,” he said.
“It’s a little bit of a grind from week to week. We’re still and long way from home, but to just get up and going and get a bit more fluency in our game, and kick a few more goals and restrict the opposition to only 12 goals was a pretty good effort.
“We’ll just take the four points and move on. Not in our wildest dreams did we think we’d be 10-1 at the halfway mark of the season, but there’s no opportunity in this game to sit and get satisfied.”
Hawthorn travels to Adelaide to take on the Crows next week with Clarkson confident Chance Bateman will be making the trip despite copping a heavy knock to the thigh late in the game.
