TonyK
CibbuanoHawks better for the run: Clarkson
July 26th 2008 01:03
HAWTHORN has gained invaluable experience ahead of this year's finals series, according to coach Alistair Clarkson.
Under Clarkson's reign the Hawks have only twice played in front of crowds in excess of 70,000.
Last night Hawthorn went down to reigning premiers Geelong by 11 points in front of more than 86,000 fans, but Clarkson said the experience of playing in front of a finals-like crowd would benefit his side in the long term.
"You just can't buy that type of opportunity, 85,000 people or thereabouts against a quality opponent like Geelong who have taken all before them in the last 18 months," Clarkson said.
"For us to compete as well as we did, we're disappointed we didn't get across the line but, as I said before the game, win or lose tonight just the exposure our lads got to that type of contest was outstanding for them."
Clarkson admitted his side's lack of polish proved to be costly.
Poor skill errors and decision making resulted in three Geelong goals, including the match-winner after Luke Hodge turned the ball over in the centre square.
"Geelong demonstrated at the crunch of the game that they're a little bit more polished than what we are at the present time," he said.
"We got some important opportunities through the middle of the ground that we just didn't capitalise on, right throughout the course of the game but particularly in the last quarter when the game was there for the taking."
Geelong coach Mark Thompson said his side showed a greater will to win than the Hawks.
"In the end I thought our will to win was better than the opposition's, especially by some of our midfielders," Thompson said.
"What they said to us in the end and to the footy world was they didn't want to lose this game of footy. They probably went over and above the call of duty, some of them, to help this team get over the line."
But Thompson dimissed any suggestions his side would gain any psychological edge as a result of the win.
"I don't think tonight counts that much as we didn't win it convincingly. We never crushed them, it was a really tight affair so they should be pretty proud of their efforts too, Hawthorn," he said.
"They haven't lost any respect tonight."
Under Clarkson's reign the Hawks have only twice played in front of crowds in excess of 70,000.
Last night Hawthorn went down to reigning premiers Geelong by 11 points in front of more than 86,000 fans, but Clarkson said the experience of playing in front of a finals-like crowd would benefit his side in the long term.
"You just can't buy that type of opportunity, 85,000 people or thereabouts against a quality opponent like Geelong who have taken all before them in the last 18 months," Clarkson said.
"For us to compete as well as we did, we're disappointed we didn't get across the line but, as I said before the game, win or lose tonight just the exposure our lads got to that type of contest was outstanding for them."
Clarkson admitted his side's lack of polish proved to be costly.
Poor skill errors and decision making resulted in three Geelong goals, including the match-winner after Luke Hodge turned the ball over in the centre square.
"Geelong demonstrated at the crunch of the game that they're a little bit more polished than what we are at the present time," he said.
"We got some important opportunities through the middle of the ground that we just didn't capitalise on, right throughout the course of the game but particularly in the last quarter when the game was there for the taking."
Geelong coach Mark Thompson said his side showed a greater will to win than the Hawks.
"In the end I thought our will to win was better than the opposition's, especially by some of our midfielders," Thompson said.
"What they said to us in the end and to the footy world was they didn't want to lose this game of footy. They probably went over and above the call of duty, some of them, to help this team get over the line."
But Thompson dimissed any suggestions his side would gain any psychological edge as a result of the win.
"I don't think tonight counts that much as we didn't win it convincingly. We never crushed them, it was a really tight affair so they should be pretty proud of their efforts too, Hawthorn," he said.
"They haven't lost any respect tonight."
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