HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson lamented his team’s lack of polish with the ball, pointing to uncharacteristic skill errors as a key factor in the Hawks’ 56-point loss to the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.
Clarkson said his team failed to capitalise on a first half in which it dominated many key stats before the Lions ran riot in the second half and kicked away with the game.
The Hawks coach said their skill errors had been down in previous few weeks and the Lions duly capitalised.
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"The bottom line is that they just used it in a better manner than what we did," Clarkson said.
"That usually isn't the way we describe ourselves, usually our polish with the football is pretty strong."
Despite the recent run of poor ball handling, Clarkson backed his team to turn it around.
"We were pretty good at it early in the season, but we just haven’t been as good in that space in the last two to three games," Clarkson said.
"It’s a topsy-turvy year and hopefully we can work on it in training and get ourselves better in that space."
Hawthorn looked lively early, with Jack Gunston scoring two early goals to give the Hawks the early momentum at the Gabba.
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But some late Lions goals reduced the deficit to just five points at quarter-time, and from there Brisbane convincingly beat the Hawks in each remaining quarter.
"I think we … nearly doubled them for possession and control of the ball early in the game and probably to come out of that quarter to be 5-4 probably wasn’t a great reflection of how well we were playing at that point in time," Clarkson said.
"Full credit to Brisbane, seven times they went inside 50m they were able to score four goals.
"It was probably only going to be a matter of time where the Brisbane midfield were going to start getting some of their supply and control of the ball.
"We couldn’t change the momentum of the game, we tried a lot of things but to the credit of their side and their play, they didn’t allow us to get back into the contest."
During the week Clarkson said Luke Hodge was just one of 22 "faceless men" that Hawthorn would have to confront at the Gabba.
Clarkson continued to play down the clash against his former skipper post-game when asked if it was strange seeing Hodge in opposition colours.
WATCH Alastair Clarkson's full post-match media conference
"No not really, it’s the modern game. Everyone moves on, he’s a Brisbane Lion now, he’s enjoying his time up here and making a contribution for the Brisbane side and the Brisbane club," he said.
"He’s moved in his direction, we’ve moved in ours."
