ALASTAIR Clarkson has lauded the ability of Hawthorn's undermanned midfield to limit the influence of Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands in the Grand Final rematch at the MCG.

Hawthorn was forced to replace No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy with third-gamer Jonathon Ceglar when the former Saint was ruled out with a calf injury.

That meant the Hawks pitted David Hale, who now plays predominantly as a forward, and Ceglar against the most imposing ruckman in the competition, Sandilands, and his emerging sidekick Jack Hannath.

Although the Dockers comfortably won the hit-out count 47-32, the Hawks won the clearances 41-36 as their midfielders, led by Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell, had by far the better of their Freo opponents and powered the Hawks to a 58-point win.

"The midfield had to perform really, really strongly tonight because with McEvoy going out before the game and having to bring young 'Cegs' in, it's a big task for any ruckman in the competition to come up against Sandilands," Clarkson said.

"But 'Haley' and young Cegs battled manfully in that area and at least gave a great contest and gave our midfielders a chance and that was really important."

Clarkson was surprised the Hawks had been able to score 21 goals against a Dockers team that had conceded a total of just 10 goals in the first two rounds.

But the Hawks coach said scoreboard pressure was the best pressure to apply to an opposition side, with the Hawks' unanswered six-goal burst in the first 17 minutes of the game putting the Dockers on the back foot from the start.

Clarkson said the performances of Ceglar and fourth-gamer Will Langford - who blanketed Docker midfielder David Mundy - were evidence of a growing depth at Hawthorn that had enabled them to cover their raft of early suspensions and injuries.

Kyle Cheney, at just 187cm, has also stepped up to play as a key defender while the Hawks blooded Derick Wanganeen in round one, naming him and last year's Liston Trophy winner Mitch Hallahan as emergencies against Freo.

"We've worked pretty hard at [building our depth], which we've been in the fortunate position to do," Clarkson said.

"We've got some young guys that have been around our club, even the lads that are our emergencies tonight, Cegs I think it's his fourth year, Wanganeen has been around for four years and Hallahan has been as well.

"We believe those guys are going to be good players for us and they've just got to be patient and that's a real healthy thing for your footy club."

Hale's 200th game looked like it might end early when he came off with a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter.

Clarkson said the Hawks were not sure if the versatile tall would be fit for their round four clash with Gold Coast, but said the fact he had returned to play out the game was a good sign.

"It looked like it was a dislocation when he came off. He didn't look like he was carrying it too well and we were a bit worried with that," Clarkson said.

"They assessed him and it was just a knock, we think. He'll get that looked at through the course of the week and we're hoping it will be OK."

Clarkson said the Hawks were also hopeful McEvoy would return against the Suns, but won't be taking any risks.