TOMORROW’s match against North Melbourne is ‘just another game’ according to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, despite the Hawks being one step closer to cementing a top-two finish with a win.
Speaking to the media at training today, Clarkson said this week’s match against the Kangaroos at the MCG was no more significant than any other home-and-away game.
“It’s just another game of home-and-away footy. There’s 22 home-and-away games and they’re building blocks towards finals in terms of getting as many wins as you can to qualify for finals,” he said.
“It goes without saying every game is important, but this week’s game is no more important than last week’s game or next week’s game – we’ll be doing our upmost to get the four points and I’m sure North Melbourne will do the same.”
The four-time premiership coach said the group of four sides below the Hawks on the ladder which are trying to make up the one-game buffer was no motivation for his team.
“All we can control is us winning games of footy and we’ve done that pretty well for the majority of our games this year and that’s why we’re sitting on top of the ladder,” Clarkson said.
“Everything’s in our control in terms of the next three games. If we play to the standards we set ourselves then it doesn’t matter who’s behind us.”
James Frawley, Paul Puopolo and Liam Shiels all return to the side after overcoming respective injuries and Clarkson said it was a real boost to the Hawthorn side.
“We’re pleased they’re back in the side. They (Frawley, Shiels and Puopolo) all add something pretty important to us – Frawley in the back end, Puopolo up front and Shiels in the middle of the ground,” he said.
“Hartung and Burton are younger players but we’re really excited about their inclusion in the side too.”
The Hawks have certainly made an effort to blood their next generation in 2016, with Ryan Burton being the seventh player to debut in the brown and gold this year.
“He’s a key position player who can play forward and back – he’s done a bit of both in the last couple of weeks at Box Hill,” Clarkson said.
“He’s played and trained really strongly over the last six to eight weeks and gets his chance tomorrow so we’re really excited with that.
“It’s our seventh debutant of the year which is great for the future of our footy club and we expect Ryan to be a really good player for us in the future.”
