HAWTHORN has already resurrected its fortunes once in 2010 and coach Alastair Clarkson has faith his men can do it again after a 44-point loss to the Sydney Swans left its finals hopes in the balance.

The Hawks conceded 10 goals to three in the first half and trailed by 47 points at half time, before rallying in the third term to get within four goals.

But the Swans steadied to claim victory, leaving the Hawks teetering in eighth place with three rounds to play.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said his players were shattered by their first-half display, acknowledging their past two games were a long way off the standard set during their seven-game winning streak.

However, he drew some solace from the resilience already shown by his side in 2010 after losing six of its first seven games.

“We’ve been in a deep and dark hole early in the season and we find ourselves in a little bit of a hole at the minute. We pulled ourselves out of it last time; we’ve got to do the same,” he said.

“We’ve got three games to go and places are really hotting up in the bottom half of the eight. We’re going to need to play some better footy than we have in the past two weeks to secure ourselves a finals berth.”

Lance Franklin was the Hawks’ most productive forward with 4.4 but all his majors came in the second half and his direct opponent, Heath Grundy, was instrumental in setting up the Swans’ drive from defence in the first half.

Clarkson said Franklin’s game reflected that of the whole team.

“He didn’t play anywhere near his best in the first half when we needed him to and Sydney were up and running and they played some great footy,” he said.

“Both sides’ big forwards kicked five or six goals between them but it was just the way they moved the ball from stoppages; they kicked six goals from stoppages in the first half to our zero. Therein tells you a fair story. They were just harder around the football than us and they were winning a lot more contested ball.”

Clarkson said he still gave his side a chance when they trailed by five goals at three-quarter time, but as often happens, it proved too great a margin to overhaul.

“It’s the second week in a row where our intensity at the footy early in the game has been poor and the pattern’s been set. Unfortunately when you play catch-up footy like that, you don’t catch them,” he said.
 
“We worked hard to get back in the game but… when the whips were cracking, we weren’t there and Sydney were just outstanding.”

Campbell Brown is set to return from suspension against Melbourne and Clarkson said a number of players at Box Hill would be considered for selection.