ALASTAIR Clarkson admits it was his side’s ability to "win the grind" that was the cornerstone of their 35-point win over St Kilda in Launceston on Saturday night.
It certainly wasn't the prettiest victory of Clarkson’s superb career, a heavy dew setting in soon after the start at the University of Tasmania Stadium making conditions difficult for the players.
"It was a tough contest," Clarkson said.
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"The conditions changed throughout the course of the game; it started off in pretty mild conditions and the ball was dry, but by quarter-time the game changed, both sides were really having a lot of trouble handling the ball cleanly.
"The dew dropped pretty quickly, it just seemed to happen in five or 10 minutes. It became a wet-weather game in a sense."
Clarkson heaped praise on a number of Hawthorn’s senior players, who inspired the their younger teammates to their fourth win of the season.
Isaac Smith was best afield with 24 possessions and four goals, Tom Mitchell racked up 45 touches, Ben McEvoy was a colossus in the ruck (25 hit outs, 22 disposals), while Luke Breust and Jack Gunston both booted three goals.
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"We just hung in there and played some tough, hard footy, which is required in those conditions. We ended up winning a lot of key indicators in the last quarter to run out pretty comfortable winners," Clarkson explained.
"The scoreboard perhaps reflects the toughness of that game, it was close and tight all game.
"We just managed to convert some opportunities late in the third quarter and early in the last that just got us enough scoreboard ascendancy."
Clarkson said it was vital for the Hawks to bounce back after their disappointing loss to North Melbourne last week.
"We take the four points and move on," he said.
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"We’ve got the Bombers next week… and we needed to rebound strongly from last week; we were really poor in the early part of the game against the Kangaroos.
"It’s a really, really close competition, and it is really, really hard to keep your dukes up and not cop one on the beak right throughout the course of the year.
"We had that time where we got smacked right on the nose last week… we’ve responded in the right manner this week, so that’s pleasing.
"It is a tough and tight competition, it’s a good competition. Dropping your guard or your intent for a millisecond and you’re going to wear one on the beak."
