This time it was Clarko the Clown

AFL LADDER

ALASTAIR Clarkson won’t back away from bold experiments to turn his side into a premiership contender after a “gallant loss” to arch rival Geelong yesterday.

The Hawks were still within 17 points halfway through the last term yesterday as a more polished Geelong side eventually triumphed in a 23-point victory.

Clarkson’s Hawks started with Jack Gunston on a back flank against Gary Ablett as third-gamer Mitchell Lewis showed some exciting signs with a goal and 14 possessions.

Clarkson admitted the Hawks needed to find another three goals a game to regularly beat rivals and, on yesterday’s effort, aren’t quite there yet.

James Sicily went to ground after being bumped in the second half by Tom Hawkins, with opinion split on whether the Cats’ forward has a case to answer or the Hawk went to ground too easily.

Clarkson didn’t see the incident, as Sicily and Gunston combined in the back half to try to give the Hawks more offensive drive.

Hawthorn is now 2-3 and face a resurgent Carlton next week in Launceston, but Clarkson clearly has one eye on the win-loss record and one on the future.

“We are regularly kicking 12 or 13 goals a game, and we think to win consistently we need to kick 15 or 16 goals. So we are searching. We are searching for how to do it better,” he said.

“We needed good rebound from the back half and leadership and experience with [Ben] Stratton out of the side.

“We needed an opportunity for Lewis to be able to draw the footy and, if Gunston is down there, it doesn’t give him an opportunity to fly at the footy and present at the target.

“You try different things in games and, when they come off, you are a supposed genius and when they don’t, you are a clown. So, clown today for me.”

Hawthorn’s medical staff ruled out Stratton with concussion late, with Clarkson optimistic he will be ready to take on Carlton.