“We’re just taking it week by week.”
It’s one of the most common clichés in footy vernacular.
But, given the consistent unpredictability of results in the opening two months of this season, Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson says there’s little option for an alternative attitude.
With the Hawks recording their best win of the season over GWS last week, Clarkson said the Round 8 victory had quickly become irrelevant in his eyes as his side prepares to take on Richmond this Sunday.
“You can’t really worry too much about what’s happened last week,” Clarkson said.
“As we’ve learnt throughout the course of this year, a week is a long time in footy and sometimes you can have a terrific win followed by a pretty ordinary loss.
“We saw that against GWS last week, no one gave us a hope in hell of knocking them off.
“It suggests that a fair bit of the game at the minute is being played in the head, but in actual fact it’s just a really, really even season and if you don’t bring your best every week, you’re vulnerable.”
Clarkson was also quick to dismiss the idea that Richmond were susceptible this week given its number of injuries.
“We don’t look at it as if they’re undermanned.
“We’re not looking at Toby Nankervis being out of the side and thinking, “we’re going to get a big advantage in the ruck” – it is going to be a significant contest.
“We’re going into this knowing it’s going to be fight, no matter who the opposition is.”
