Hawks better than last year: Clarkson
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Alastair Clarkson says the Hawks can make a deep run come finals time (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney, file photo)
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says his side is much better prepared for this year's AFL finals series and will enter September action full of confidence.
The Hawks returned to form yesterday with a 71-point thrashing of West Coast, which broke a 14-year winless streak at Subiaco and moved them back into second place ahead of the Bulldogs.
A win against Carlton next week would ensure Hawthorn second position and with it a home final in the first week and the double chance.
Win or lose, the Hawks will take on the Bulldogs in week one, the only variable being at which ground the contest will take place.
In their only meeting this year, the Bulldogs downed Hawthorn by 32 points in round 10.
After finishing fifth last year and bowing out to the Kangaroos in the first semi-final, Clarkson says having a double chance this year would be a major advantage.
"That means we can approach the finals series with a fair amount of confidence that we've worked really hard as a side to give ourselves an opportunity to play in at least two finals," he said.
"We want to go as deep as we possibly can in September and we think when we play our best footy that we can acquit ourselves well against opposition."
The week will not be stress-free for Clarkson, however, with skipper Sam Mitchell likely to come under the attention of the AFL match review panel for his high shot on West Coast's Ashley Hansen.
