HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has sounded an ominous warning in the wake of the Hawks 51-point mauling of the Western Bulldogs.

"I'd still like to think we can improve our footy on what we produced tonight," a satisfied Clarkson said post-game.

"I know that might sound a little silly because we were really pleased with our effort, but finals' footy quite often isn't won by the team that plays the most attractive brand of footy. It's usually won by sides which are just generally hard and tough.

"I thought for the bulk of the game our guys, and their intensity at the ball, was better than the Western Bulldogs."

While the stats say the Hawks had only six more contested possessions, the game told a very different tale.

Hawthorn won the inside 50 count 65-41, laid eight more tackles and used the ball more efficiently than the Dogs, who had 76 more possessions but wasted many of them.

The big win, however, nay have come at a cost.

Star defender Trent Croad injured his foot late in the second term and took no part in the second half.

After the match the 28-year-old was in significant pain as he hobbled around the changerooms.

"He's got a foot injury but we're not certain what it is," Clarkson said.

"He's having trouble putting weight on his foot, so whether its ligament damage, or bone damage, we just need to get it assessed probably tomorrow morning to see where it's at."

Cameron Stokes (corked thigh) and Grant Birchall (corked hip) are both expected to be available for the preliminary final, while Rick Ladson (shoulder) will have tests to determine the extent of the damage after he was crunched in a marking contest late in the game.

While some injured Hawks licked their wounds, star forward Lance Franklin basked in the glory of his qualifying final heroics.

Clarkson echoed the sentiment of every Hawthorn fan after watching his star kick eight match-winning goals.
 
"We're obviously really pleased he's on our side and not the opposition's," he said.

"He did some pretty special things.

"That goal he kicked about 10 minutes into the last quarter … for him to kick that goal from 48m out, and hotly contested, was a super effort."

Franklin ended the night with 14 kicks, seven marks, 8.2 and two out on the full.

He took his tally of goals in finals to 18 from three appearances after kicking 10 in two finals last year.