HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says the club was right to fine captain Luke Hodge $5000 for his drink-driving offence.
He said all clubs had to face discipline issues and Hawthorn was in the best position to judge an appropriate penalty.
"It’s difficult, but no club is foreign to this stuff, " Clarkson said.
"We have become as a footy club really resilient and experienced at being able to deal with these in the appropriate manner.
"None of them are easy."
A contrite Hodge said it been an embarrassing and disappointing few days, but that was inevitable after being picked up on Thursday night with an blood alcohol reading of 0.068 that led to a $450 fine and the loss of 10 demerit points.
He was now in the right state to play the first qualifying final, having also served a two-week suspension.
"What I do know is … I know how to play football," Hodge said.
"All I've focused on in the last few days is Friday night."
The game shapes as a premiership-defining game with the prize of a home preliminary final going to the winner.
However Clarkson said the Hawks were not thinking about the ramifications of the result, as they had to put all their energies into beating West Coast, rather than worrying about what might happen beyond that.
Aware that West Coast was without ruck duo Nic Natainui and Callum Sinclair when the two teams met in round 19, Clarkson said it was worth remembering Scott Lycett proved an adequate replacement that night.
Lycett's 20-disposal game that night included 17 contested possessions, 39 hitouts and seven clearances.
"He was nearly West Coast's best player. He had a fantastic game that night," Clarkson said.
"It was not like they had a particular void on that night in that area of the ground."
However he conceded that the midfield battle would be an important determinant of the result.
"We know that the ruck area of the ground for West Coast is a really pivotal part of the ground. We need to compete ferociously in that part of the ground," Clarkson said.
Clarkson said there was a chance James Frawley (who has kicked six goals in the past fortnight) could join Brian Lake (who missed the round 19 clash) and Josh Gibson in defence to counter the Eagles' tall forwards but that would be determined by what was happening on the night.
"What we have been able to explore in the last two weeks in particular is Frawley being able to play forward or back gives us that flexibility," Clarkson said.
"We’re pleased that flexibility gives us some options in our back end but we’re going to need some options down there too because they have a very, very potent forward line."
