ALASTAIR Clarkson says Hawthorn won't apologise for playing "hard and ruthless footy" in the wake of suspensions to skipper Luke Hodge and vice-captain Jordan Lewis.
The Hawks travel to face Greater Western Sydney without the pair of leaders on Saturday, with Hodge serving the first of a three-game ban and Lewis rubbed out for two weeks.
Both players were banned for striking in the first quarter of the 60-point win over North Melbourne last Saturday night, when the Hawks came out breathing fire after being jumped early in games this year.
Speaking ahead of his side's round six clash with the Giants, Clarkson said the best teams in history are notorious for their tough streak and he was adamant the Hawks wouldn't soften their physical brand of football.
"Games of footy are pretty ruthless affairs and every team in the competition is trying to start well. We had a couple of our more senior players just go over that line and they've been dealt with the by the system in place," he said at Melbourne Airport.
"We're disappointed not to have those guys but we've got to play tough, hard footy and all the best sides in the competition in the history of the game have played that way.
"So we don't apologise for playing hard and ruthless footy, but we just want to do it within the rules and there were a couple of instances last week where we didn't and we paid the penalty for that."
The Hawks are vying to become only the fifth club in VFL/AFL history to win three-straight premierships this season.
After a bumpy start they can improve their record to 4-2 against the Giants, who have also won three matches but were humbled by 87 points by West Coast in Perth last round.
"For all sides interstate travel is a really big challenge and that's what we've got to confront this week," Clarkson said.
"We're playing on GWS' home deck, we've never played there before, so that will give them a slight advantage … and they've been really impressive in their games to date - albeit they had a bit of a hiccup last week.
"They've got a very, very talented side and if they can get out and run and use their skills they will hurt any side in the competition.
"We're just as prone to that as any other side in the competition."
The Hawks have never lost to GWS in three meetings, although the expansion club got within seven points at a wet MCG in round 11 last season.
Hawthorn has brought back small forward Paul Puopolo and Jed Anderson, but resisted the temptation to name key defender James Frawley (pectoral) for an earlier than expected return from injury.
"He was nearly right to play this week, does that mean he's going to be right next week? I would like to hope he would be but we'll just have to wait and see how progresses through the course of the week," Clarkson said.
And after being embroiled in an altercation with a fan outside Hawthorn's team hotel during the club's last away trip to Adelaide, Clarkson said he had learnt his lesson.
"Bodyguards? Nah, we learnt a few lessons and I probably won't be walking back interstate next time," he said.
