HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson is taking a 'glass half-full' approach to Lance Franklin's second goalless performance in as many games.
Reigning NAB AFL Rising Star Daniel Talia restricted Franklin to no goals on Saturday evening, the second consecutive goalless week for Franklin after he failed to find the big sticks in his side's three-point win over North Melbourne last week.
The effort against the Crows was only the second time in the superstar's 167-game career that he has failed to boot goals in consecutive games.
But Clarkson said winning two close encounters against good opposition with little contribution from 'Buddy' said good things about the depth of his squad.
"We've played two really good sides the last couple of weeks…so we're pleased in the sense that we've been able to win a couple of close games without him contributing," Clarkson said.
"Obviously it’s going to help if he starts getting on the scoreboard a bit more, but it's good that we can find different avenues.
"(Jack) Gunston kicked three tonight, so that was pleasing for us."
Franklin has booted 537 goals in 167 matches and Clarkson insisted he wouldn't lose sleep because of two poor performances from a player of Franklin's ability.
"He's been such a formidable contributor for us in our front half for such a long, long period of time and for him to have a couple of down days isn't such a bad thing for either he or us," Clarkson said.
The coach hailed Saturday night's 11-point win over Adelaide an "outstanding" result for the club, having repelled several attacks from the Crows including a final-term charge.
The home side hit the lead early in the last quarter but even with the support of a vocal crowd, the Crows couldn't find a way over the line.
Clarkson admitted the win was a grind, but said the hard-fought nature of the game only made the victory more important.
"They're tough to beat in Adelaide, they've been under the pump, it was Truck's (Ben Rutten) 200th game … they would have been really fired up and wanted to give a good account of themselves," he said.
"To win in those circumstances, no matter what the margin is an outstanding result for our club.
"As happens against good sides, it's hard to keep them down for the whole four quarters.
"They played some really good footy in the second quarter, got themselves back into the contest and then it was a real grind from that point on."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
