HAWTHORN forward Michael Osborne has paid tribute to coach Alastair Clarkson and the Hawks' fleet of new faces for helping the team keep winning through a horror run of injuries.

The Hawks have been without key defenders Ben Stratton and Stephen Gilham, and fellow big men Jarryd Roughead and Brent Renouf for a large chunk of the season.

Added to that, premiership players Chance Bateman, Xavier Ellis, Rick Ladson and Clinton Young have all had injury-interrupted campaigns.

Osborne admitted he'd have been surprised if you'd told him at the start of the year that Hawthorn would finish third with such a list of names spending time on the sidelines.

The 29 year-old said Clarkson's ability to adjust had been significant.

"I think the work 'Clarko' has done with us over the year, especially after losing a few of our big names - Roughead, Stratton and Gilham - early, the way he's handled the group and just tweaked a few different things has been great," Osborne told hawthornfc.com.au ahead of Friday night's qualifying final against Geelong.

"He's got everyone on the same page and they're confident with their own ability and what they need to do for the team as well."

Osborne suspected the inclusions, players such as Ryan Schoenmakers, Matt Suckling, Paul Puopolo, Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels, Shane Savage and Luke Breust, had probably exceeded even their own expectations for 2011.

"I think the young guys that have played most of the season didn't think they'd get an opportunity and play the roles they have," he said.

"I think their enthusiasm and their competitiveness coming into the side has lifted everyone as well."

The upshot is that with the injury list dwindling, the Hawks have built impressive depth.

They rested eight important players for Saturday's win over Gold Coast, but among the 'ins' for the match were premiership players Bateman, Ladson, Ellis and Sam Mitchell (rested the week before), plus Stratton in his first senior game since round three.

Clarkson now faces the difficult task of culling eight of last week's 22 at the selection table this week.

 "There's always going to be disappointed guys come finals time, but it's a good problem to have," Osborne said.

"There will be a few unlucky ones, but that's the way it's going to be every year.

"It gives us a good shot at going all the way."

A veteran of 153 matches, Osborne rated his own season as "alright".

"I've had a few good games and a few not-so-good games," he said.

"The way footy's changed in the last couple of years, the game plan almost changes week-to-week, and you have different roles and different expectations each week.

"That makes it hard to really gauge what is a good game in the eyes of the supporters and in the eyes of the team internally.

"Some games you might not get as much of the ball, but you may have done something that's helped the team get over the line, and that's what's important for that particular game."