HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says he is yet to get a good reading on his team this year after Sunday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

The Hawks went down by 16 points to last year’s preliminary finalists, leaving them at 1-2 after three rounds.

But Clarkson says an unfortunate run of injuries has seen the Hawks personnel depleted.

“We haven’t won a last quarter in the season to date. Is it because our fitness levels are not good enough?" he asked after the match.

"We’d just like a couple of games where we could make an accurate judgment. Is it the fitness or the implication of losing a couple of soldiers along the way?
 
 “We’ve had a tough program early in the year playing two pretty good sides in the Cats and the Dogs on a six day break. We can cry over that stuff but you’ve got to move on.”

Josh Gibson injured a hamstring just eight minutes into the Bulldogs match and his opponent Barry Hall went on to kick six goals for the game.

Midfielder Jordan Lewis also looked to have suffered a severe head injury when he clashed with Bulldog Jarrod Harbrow in the third quarter. But Lewis returned to the field midway through the last term.

Gibson is yet to be diagnosed but was on crutches in the rooms afterwards. Lewis should be fine to play in next week’s game against Collingwood.

Clarkson marvelled at Lewis’ courage in returning to the game after the heavy hit.

 “He is unconditional in that regard. He will nurse a sore scone for a couple of days no doubt. But ... the fact he was able to regather himself and get back on the ground means there is some chance he’ll be able to play next week,” he said.

The Hawks’ bad run with injury could be coming to an end though with Clinton Young, Brad Sewell and Shaun Burgoyne all a chance to return in the coming weeks.

 “Youngy has played the last three at Box Hill and has got through pretty well. Sewelly is right at the back end of recovery from his broken collarbone. He will be in the mix over the next week or two,” Clarkson said.

“Shaun is ready to go as well, we just need to work out if we play him at Box Hill or in our senior side.

"As of today, he is ready to play footy and has trained the best part of the last two weeks. We need to work out what his best pathway is back into playing regular senior footy for us.”