Clarkson suggested that any talk of Geelong slipping in 2009 would be totally off the mark.
"I still expect that Geelong will continue to be a dominant side next year," Clarkson said post-match.
"We got the victory today, but it could've quite easily been a very, very different result and I wouldn't suggest for one minute that that elevates us above Geelong.
"We still respect them enormously and they're a more experienced group than us and we think that we've still got to chase them in terms of improving our performance a bit in the couple of years ahead."
Despite his plaudits for the Cats, Clarkson was adamant the Hawks were full of confidence entering the grand final, due to their recent record over the blue and white.
"Our form against the Cats, despite our lower ladder position and Geelong's dominance over the course of the last two years has been quite good," Clarkson said.
"In 2006, we beat them twice and in '05 we lost to them, probably because 'Hodgey' was out for one particular week. Last year we won one game down in Tassie against them by four points and it was such a great battle in round 17.
"So the players had an inner belief that despite Geelong's outstanding form, as a side, that if we played our best footy, we could really stack up well against them. We match up well against the Cats generally, so that gave them the belief that they could compete.
"None of us had been here in a grand final before except 'Dewy', and he was the only one who really knew what to expect and how to handle it."
Clarkson said there was also a stronger resolve from the players, rather than the coaches, to make amends for last year's semi-final loss to North Melbourne.
"We wanted to make every post a winner come finals this year and not be disappointed and ask: 'If only' at the end of the game," he said.
