HAWTHORN walked away with a 46-point win on Friday night but its early midfield struggles exposed an over-reliance on star onballer Sam Mitchell, according to coach Alastair Clarkson.

Mitchell, who will return next week, was a late withdrawal for Friday night's clash at the MCG after the Hawks decided not to risk him with soreness in a corked calf.

The team's leading stoppage player this season, his absence meant others needed to step into the centre square and Clarkson was pleased with the character shown by his players.

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"He's been our best player for the year, more than likely, and he's such an important player to the way we go about it," Clarkson said.

"I don't like the fact that 'Mitch' isn't playing but it actually forces other players to step up when he isn't there … we've had too heavy a reliance on him in the first part of the year.

"So it was a good chance for them to put their hand up and take some responsibility.

"Guys were forced in there to have responsibility and not sit there and think that 'Mitch' is going to do it all."

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

The Hawks had 15 players win a clearance on Friday night, compared to Richmond's nine, with Kieran Lovell and Will Langford (five each) supporting veteran Jordan Lewis (eight).

It didn't start well though, with Richmond leading the clearances 13-5 at quarter-time and still holding an edge at the last break (33-24).

A run of 12 goals to two late in the game made the Hawks look like their dominant selves, but Clarkson said he was unsure how long it would be until the premiers were back to their best.

"We had four or five players beneath 10 games, so that's the first time in a long time that Hawthorn has fielded a side as inexperienced as that," he said.

"It's great for the future of our footy club that we're able to play those young guys and they all made important contributions at stages of the game for us.

"While we've got those younger guys in the side we don't know what out ceiling is.

"It's been a tough old grind for us and we've got ourselves to 5-2 without playing sensational footy."

Clarkson said he was pleased with the return of midfielder Billy Hartung, who was left out for last week's loss against Greater Western Sydney in anticipation of a wet game.

On Friday night he racked up 28 possessions at 96 per cent efficiency and kicked a goal to be arguably his team's best midfielder.

"His form hadn't been too bad, and we just thought the game (against GWS) was going to be played in pretty slippery conditions up in Sydney last week … then it didn't rain," Clarkson said.

"Young Kieran Lovell we thought might be more suited to the tighter GWS ground.    

"(Hartung) came in and played a really important role for us today, so we were pleased with his effort."