A PROUD Alastair Clarkson has applauded Hawthorn's resilience and fight in its thrilling three-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

In a game that ebbed and flowed, the Hawks started strongly kicking the opening five goals of the game to edge out to a 32-point advantage at the six-minute mark of the second term. 

WATCH: Final two minutes of Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn

But the Dogs were able to turn the momentum, kicking the next four goals to slash the Hawks' lead back to six points at half-time. 

It was the third quarter that stunned the Hawks with the Bulldogs putting in a dominant term, which saw them wrestle the game back in their favour to lead by 19 points at the final change. 

Clarkson admitted his side "had no answer" for the way the Bulldogs played in the third quarter, but commended his side for rallying when the game was up for grabs in the final moments.

WATCH: Alastair Clarkson's full post-match press conference

"We were dreadful in the third quarter and they were really good," Clarkson said after the win.

"These players are a very resilient group and they just found a way. They lifted their intensity in the last quarter.

"When you have pride in your group, and they want to resurrect that in the final quarter, it gave us the opportunity to win. 

"Good sides find a way to win, we were obviously disappointed at some stages of the game that we played so poorly and they just hunted the contest so much better than us in the third quarter."

The Bulldogs dominated the key statistics on Sunday, winning the contested possessions (161-134) and clearances (46-30).

At the main break, the contested possession count was 68-67 in Hawthorn's favour, but that blew out in the third term to 125-95 in the Dogs favour.

The message from Clarkson at three-quarter time was simple - win the contested ball. 

"I think we went down 31 in contested ball in the third quarter," Clarkson said.

"I'm not sure this side has ever gone down that much in one quarter to be fair. We were perhaps a little lucky that didn't convert into more scoreboard control for the Dogs. 

"We found a way just to hang in there. If felt like the game was more than just a three goal difference at three-quarter time, such was there dominance. We're really proud of the fight of our guys."

Clarkson praised the composure of young key forward James Sicily who kicked three goals in the final term, including the match winner in the dying minute of the game. 

He also applauded the efforts of premiership defender Ben Stratton, who kept Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer to just one goal for the match, which came from a free kick in the final term.

"He's a real warrior in the back end for us 'Stratts'," Clarkson said. 

"He's pretty unheralded, but hugely regarded in the walls of our footy club. He played a good game on Stringer today. He'd been in fine form and is such a polished player for the Bulldogs." 

The Hawks host St Kilda next Saturday at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. 

Clarkson said it was unlikely they would regain skipper Luke Hodge (arm) and speedster Brad Hill (wrist) for the clash. 

"Hodge would have played today if he had his way," Clarkson joked.

"They'll be in the mix but they're probably more doubtful than likely at this point in time. We certainly won't take Hodgey's word for it … we'll have to get it cleared by the doctors, but probably unlikely."