Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson has described this Friday night’s clash with Essendon as a “cut-throat” game.
With the Bombers one spot ahead of the Hawks on the ladder heading into the second half of the season, the winner of this game will find itself alongside the eighth-placed Port Adelaide with six wins to its name.
After both clubs enjoyed their bye round last week, the importance of this game is clearly not lost on the Hawks coach.
“A loss and you start to feel like you lose contact with the group of eight or 10 sides above you on the ladder,” Clarkson said at his press conference on Thursday.
“It’s an important game in that respect.”
But the four-time premiership coach stopped short of proclaiming that the outcome of this game would have long-term ramifications.
“It’s more about our mindset as a coaching group, club and playing group for how we are best preparing for our next bit of silverware.
“Everyone thinks that’s about the here and the now.
“But what we need to keep an eye on is what we’re doing and seeing with either the progress of some young players or the way we’re playing the game.
“So, irrespective of the result this week, as long as we’re seeing some signs that we’re heading in the right direction – and that might not be obvious to the wider football public but as long as it’s obvious to us.”
