Not time for Hawks to rest on laurels

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has downplayed his club’s late season surge into the AFL’s top four, saying they need to lift a gear in the finals.

The Hawks nine-point win at the SCG on Saturday over Sydney secured them a top four spot and denied the Swans the same double chance opportunity.

“We’ve won six games on the trot and we’re really pleased with that,” Clarkson said. “But we’re going to be coming up against formidable opponents … so we need to get a bit better.”

Clarkson lauded both his veterans and emerging youngsters after the Hawks overturned a four-goal second quarter deficit against Sydney.

He said they got important contributions from Harry Morrison and James Worpel, both 19, and Irishman Conor Nash, 20.

Clarkson felt the efforts of the younger Hawks was one of the factors in their recent wins.

“We injected some younger guys into the side who have given us some real enthusiasm and that’s helping us,” he said.

The Hawks could regain the services of James Sicily for week one of the finals, after the emerging star broke a scaphoid against Brisbane in mid-July.

“We’re at that point in time where I think he’s missed the six, we have gone six-zip without him, so maybe we don’t play him, I don’t know,” Clarkson said.

“’I’m being a smart alec by saying that – he’s an important player for us.

“He’ll be a handy return for us, if he is available to play, but we need to get the specialist’s call on that.”