The Hawks received publicity for playing a high possession game in their round 10 win over the Western Bulldogs, where they dictated the match by continuously chipping around half-back.
On Sunday, Hawthorn encountered a Fremantle team pressing up hard into its forward 50 to put constant pressure on the Hawks' group of skilful backmen.
The Hawks eventually won by 22 points, but looked in trouble when 26 points in arrears early in the last quarter.
Fremantle's tactics appeared to have significant effect in the opening three quarters, with Brent Guerra, Matt Suckling and Tom Murphy, who took 15 uncontested marks each against the Dogs, limited to a combined nine marks.
The Hawks' disposal efficiency dropped from 81 per cent against the Bulldogs to 69 per cent against Fremantle, and they often reverted to long kicks to contests to get the ball forward.
"I think every week you come up against different opponents with different styles of pressing and defence, and you've got to be able to tailor your game to deal with that," Gibson said on Monday.
"So obviously that [chipping around in defence] worked for us that week against the Dogs, and we're playing Geelong this week and their style will be different, and we'll have to work out a way to get through that.
"It's hard to do the same thing every week."
What the Hawks did prove by piling on the last eight goals of the game was that regardless of any other modern-day tactics, contested possession is still king.
Clarkson's men dominated clearances in the final term and almost doubled their opponents in fourth quarter contested possessions, with inspirational leaders Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell doing much of the in-close damage.
"It wasn't the greatest start to the game, but to the boys' credit that last quarter was pretty special," Gibson said.
"You can't always be leading but the pleasing thing was that we were down for part of the game but to be able to kick on like that in the last quarter and get a win was really good."
Hawthorn's win has set up a huge return clash with the top-of-the-ladder Geelong, who beat its 2008 grand final conquerors by 19 points in a round five classic earlier in the season.
The Hawks haven't beaten the Cats since that Grand Final victory, a hoodoo Gibson is keen to see broken.
"Definitely it's a big challenge for us this weekend, and it's one we're looking forward to," he said.
"They've had the wood over us the last couple of times.
"Yes, they've been close games, but we haven't won any of them, so we really want to get a win on the board against them this week."
Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawthorn news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan
