HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has praised Jordan Lewis’ on-field leadership in his 250th game, with the veteran leading from the front against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.
The veteran’s 42-disposal, one-goal effort was both inspirational and influential in the closer-than-expected clash at the Gabba.
Clarkson said Lewis’ role had been especially important in the last few weeks, with senior players Luke Hodge and Jarryd Roughead sidelined with injury and illness.
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“He played a variety of roles for us – a little bit of wing, a little bit of forward and a bit of on-ball for us too,” Clarkson said.
“We’re relying on our more senior men like Gibson, Burgoyne, Mitchell and Lewis to carry the load in that regard [on-field leadership], and I think they, particularly Jordan, did very well in that regard today.”
Clarkson said Lewis had a "slowish" start to the season by his high standards of the past few years, and the club was pleased with his form in the last month.
GAMEBREAKER: Lewis leads from front in 250th
“We need his presence around the middle of the ground and his leadership, and to his credit, he’s been able to contribute that enormously in the last four weeks, no more so than today.”
“When he’s playing well, we’re a better side for it.”
The Hawks blew the Lions away in the last quarter, kicking nine goals to three to bring the margin out to 48 points, after only leading by 12 at three-quarter time.
Clarkson said the warm and blustery conditions at the Gabba in the first half unsettled Hawthorn, but a combination of the wind dropping and perseverance from his team led to the fourth-quarter resurgence.
“The conditions were quite blustery, and that settled down as the game unfolded, and that helped both sides use the ball a bit better,” he said.
“We showed some real fighting qualities to really run the game out well in pretty warm conditions to play in, and we were pretty pleased with the eight goal victory.
“We’re going along okay without going brilliantly, but we’ll hopefully improve as the year progresses.”
WATCH Alastair Clarkson's full media conference
Matt Spangher’s first senior game since round 17 last year was cut short by injury a few minutes into the match, and Clarkson said the 29-year-old was very doubtful to play next week against Melbourne.
“I’m not too sure whether he’s hurt a knee or a soft-tissue injury, but we’ll get that assessed throughout the course of the week,” Clarkson said.
“It’s down low behind the knee, so we’re not sure if it’s the knee itself, or whether it’s the hamstring.
“But he was unable to come back on the ground, so that’s never a good sign as to whether he’ll play next week.”
