LADDER leader Port Adelaide is far from unbeatable, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson insists.
Despite entering Saturday night's clash missing a host of stars including Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson, the second-placed Hawks finished the game ahead in almost every key performance indicator other than the one that counts.
The reigning premiers out-possessed the Power (418-354), out-marked them (85-84), out-tackled them (74-62), won clearances (44-42) and had more inside 50s (55-47), yet lost the game by 14 points.
Clarkson said his side wasn't clean enough with the ball when it counted – a fact that would have been helped had its injured experienced players been available.
He said the Power had proven they were a quality outfit, but it was one that could be overcome.
"We just lacked a little bit of polish, we were pleased with our endeavour, we hung in there when the game looked like it could have slipped away from us early on," Clarkson said.
"They're certainly a very, very good football side and they're proven that to all and sundry that have played against them but they're by no means unbeatable.
"I think we showed that tonight."
Veteran Jordan Lewis was easily Hawthorn's best on Saturday night, amassing 38 possessions, 10 clearances and booting two goals.
Clarkson praised the star's performance but reiterated the cost of untimely mistakes.
"It was a real tough contest through the middle of the ground and he just hung in there all night and was an influential player for us," he said.
"We just didn't have enough polish with the footy, our effort was pretty good and our spirit and the roles that each of our boys were playing.
"But some of the good pressure by the Port Adelaide side and just some of our mistakes perhaps just because of our inexperience didn't get us there in the end."
