HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says matches like Friday night's record belting of Carlton aren't good for football, and concedes the uncontested nature of the game was "not ideal" preparation for an upcoming blockbuster clash with Richmond.
The Hawks hammered Carlton's inexperienced and injury-hit outfit, romping to a 138-point triumph and inflicting the biggest loss in Carlton's proud 119-year history.
Despite the lop-sided nature of the result, the triple-premiership coach said the Blues are on the right track by blooding youth under interim coach John Barker.
"They'll probably speak about this being Carlton's worst loss in their history, but I'd reckon this is the most inexperienced side they've put on the park in their history too," Clarkson said post-match.
"We all go through it. You go back to round 10, 2005 (when) the Hawks got belted by nearly 130 points by Port Adelaide over there.
"It was a really, really experienced Port Adelaide side and a really, really inexperienced Hawthorn side.
"I don't think it's any surprise that Carlton are in rebuild mode and they're giving exposure to a lot of kids. They would've been disappointed with tonight, because their effort has been a hell of a lot better over the last six-to-eight weeks.
"But sometimes when you come back from Perth, young side, six-day break, getting yourself ready to play a pretty formidable side, it's a really tough ask.
"They're on the right track as a footy club … it's not being shown right at the present time, but the method that they're going through and the way they're going about it is the right way for their club."
Speaking about his own formidable outfit, Clarkson was pleased his charges backed up thumping wins over flag rivals Fremantle and the Sydney Swans with another four-quarter performance.
The Hawks booted 27 majors from 12 individual goalkickers, with star forward Jack Gunston booting a career-best six, and have now risen to second spot on the ladder after their eighth straight win.
"Sometimes these games when you're playing inexperienced outfits, you can just go through the motions a little bit. We were really pleased that we were able to have four convincing quarters and play particularly well," Clarkson said.
"It's a big game next week against Richmond. That's where our focus is clearly now. Our preparation for a big game, it's not ideal to have such an uncontested game.
"(Richmond are) in good form, they've got some really, really good players and really good balance of experience and youth in their side, so it's going to be a big challenge for us and one that we're really looking forward to.
"Because even though we're gracious victors tonight, you don't like to see games of footy like tonight when it's just such a significant margin.
"It's not great for the game, but you've just got to do what you need to do to win games of footy."
Clarkson said star big man Jarryd Roughead (corked leg) would be OK to face the Tigers next Friday night after a heavy collision in a marking contest, while he hoped Ben Stratton (ankle), Taylor Duryea (shoulder) and Liam Shiels (corked quad) would be available.
Injury-plagued backman Matt Spangher suffered his second hamstring strain for the season, however, with Clarkson expecting the defender to "miss games of footy" after being subbed out in the second term.
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