HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson believes that his side’s failure to make the most of its chances was the crucial factor in its 11-point loss to Geelong on Friday night.

The Hawks challenged the Cats all evening, and even snatched the lead early in the final term.

"It was more to do with the opportunities we had going inside the 50 from the midfield where we either grubbered kicks or didn’t give our forwards the chance to take possession of the ball," Clarkson said after the game.

He highlighted that the most definitive part of Geelong's game is its rebound from defence and that Hawthorn allowed the Cats to have first possession on too many occasions.

"They are the best defence in the league and they have been for two years," he said.

Clarkson was proud of the effort shown by his side, but added that Hawthorn needed more composure – especially in the tight last quarter.

"Geelong demonstrated at the crunch of the game that they are just a little bit more polished than we are at the present time," he said.

Drawing a major positive, Clarkson said that his team would benefit from the exposure to a huge crowd and the stage of Friday night footy.

"You just can’t buy that type of opportunity," he said. "Over 85,000 people, against a quality opponent against Geelong who have taken all before them for 18 months.

"There’s some sides trying to narrow the gap on them and we are one of them. We are not quite there yet, but we’ve got a young group and plenty of upside.

"We know they are the measuring stick and we are chasing hard."

Clarkson's decision to play Campbell Brown in the forward line paid dividends and he said the team needed that sort of flexibility.

Brown thwarted Geelong’s usual run from defence generated by its skipper Tom Harley, but it was not the main reason for placing the tough nut in that part of the ground.

"Browny has got tremendous leg speed and kicked a couple of handy goals for us. He did some terrific work up there today," Clarkson said.

"We really just wanted a guy up forward who had good leg speed and was a genuine threat. Tom (Harley) would have known he couldn’t have given Campbell too much of a leg rope.

"He (Harley) is the No. 1 player in the league for taking a mark in the defensive 50."

And Clarkson rejected the suggestion that he may have kept strategies up his sleeve in the event the sides meet again.

"We were all out tonight and I think the Cats were too."