HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says the game has changed and his team will have to move with it in 2017 after being bundled out of the finals in straight sets.

The Hawks' golden era came to an abrupt end on Friday night, with the Western Bulldogs stunning the triple premiers and denying them a September win for the first time since 2010.

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Clarkson said his team would do whatever was necessary to improve its squad after a season full of narrow escapes that saw them finish with the third lowest percentage in the top eight (118.6 per cent). 

"It's been shown throughout the year that we just haven't played well enough … I don't think the percentage lies on the ladder too much," the coach said.   

"Our side has competed ferociously for a long, long period of time.

WATCH: Clarkson's full post-match press conference

"What's happened over the last two weeks is not surprising. They're tough to win, finals. 

"Sometimes the door opens for you and sometimes it closes. Sometimes it can close abruptly like it did tonight and you don't enjoy it too much."

Clarkson cited the Hawks' tackle count of 104-62 and the fact they only won three free kicks for holding the ball as evidence the Hawks needed to move with the times.   

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"The game’s changed in terms of interpretation," he said. 

"How can you lay 104 tackles and not even 20 of them be done for holding the ball for incorrect disposal?

"So that’s where the game has changed a bit in terms of interpretation so we’ll have to get better in that aspect. 

"That is a significant change in terms of how the game’s been umpired."

Clarkson said he was proud of his players and what they had delivered the club over a long period of time, having played in five consecutive preliminary finals for three premierships.

"We've been going deep into the season for the last five years really," he said.   

"Our guys deserve a break. We didn't plan that it was going to be tonight, but we acknowledge the work they have done in pretty trying circumstances throughout the year.

"We were brave, we just weren't good enough against a pretty good side tonight.

"We've seen the Bulldogs play some good footy but I don't think we've seen them play as well as what they did tonight … they're deserving preliminary finalists and I really hope they serve it up to GWS next week." 

Clarkson visited Beveridge in the rooms post-match to pass on his congratulations to his long-time friend and colleague at the Hawks between 2012 and 2014. 

As the Hawks look to 2017, he said Jarryd Roughead would be a handy inclusion for the team if the forward was able to recover fully from the cancer treatment he has been undergoing since early June.  

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The coach said Roughead and the club had reason to hope his recovery was tracking in the right direction. 

"He’s had some effects with that (treatment), and that’s what’s made it tough – whether it’s to do with his weight or his appetite or the way that he’s feeling," Clarkson said.

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"But he’s had some positive results to some tests over the last four or five weeks that indicate that some of these drugs are doing some good work. 

"It’d be great if our boys could play with him again next year, but we’d rather finish 18th just to have his health back again."