Clarkson claimed his side, and in particular skipper Sam Mitchell, made uncharacteristic skill errors during Sunday's shock 29-point loss to Richmond due to the oval's patchy surface.
"[Mitchell] had a day where he didn't feel comfortable with the surface under his feet, and we butchered the footy on a fair few occasions," Clarkson said.
"We need to get better in that regard, but I reckon the MCG surface might need to get better too because it's the worst I've ever seen it."
In response Gough said the surface would undergo its normal make-over in time for the finals with the refurbishment expected to commence after the final home-and-away game between Melbourne and Richmond on August 31.
He also said Hawthorn was the only club to raise concerns about the surface of the famous stadium this year.
"As we know, it is winter, it is wet and it is a little bit soft, so of course it's a bit different to normal," Gough said.
"But we'll do our normal re-turfing going into the finals so you'll see a slightly different MCG when we start the September action.
"We're progressively turfing areas during the year and we'll keep doing that.
"I still think if you compare what the grounds were going way back, and even look at Grand Final photos at the end of September when theoretically the ground should be better, you've got Grand Finals through the '80s and '90s that look a hell of a lot different to what we're playing on today."
Clarkson said the controversial Telstra Dome surface was "miles better" than the MCG, and called upon the MCC to make changes before the Hawks returned to the ground in the first week of finals.
Gough said the MCC didn't judge the two arenas against each other, given the amount of traffic the MCG endured each year, with a heavy fixture combined with curtain raisers and Auskick games.
"I think Telstra Dome is looking pretty good but I don't compare them that way," he said.
"I just look at, are we providing not only a safe but a good work place – and yes we are.
"Again, it will be better by the time we play finals."
