HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has lauded the performances of first-year Hawks Cyril Rioli and Stuart Dew, who provided significant contributions to the club's first premiership since 1991.

Clarkson said Dew's two goals during Hawthorn's streak of six unanswered goals in the third quarter were instrumental in the win. Dew was the only member of Hawthorn's side who had previously played in a premiership – with Port Adelaide in 2004.

"Within our club and coaching group we always had enormous faith in Stuart Dew and what he could bring to this group and so much of that has been off the field thus far," Clarkson said post-match.

“But today, we saw in the third quarter, he was probably the game-turner in a sense – a five-minute cameo up forward

"I wish I could take the credit for that move – I didn't even know that it had happened. I think Damien Hardwick or Ross Smith should take the credit for that in the coaches' box.

"What he did in that third quarter doesn't surprise me one bit and he's played in two flags now, the lad, so it's a great credit to him."

Rioli assisted in a couple of first quarter goals and also chipped in with two majors – one each in the second and third terms – to cap off a stunning AFL debut season, which were not lost on Clarkson.

"We identified at the end of last year that we needed a crumbing forward and not in our wildest dreams did we [think he would produce what he did in 2008]," Clarkson said.

"We knew Cyril was a beauty, but you just never anticipate that they're going to play every game of the season and be able to play in a grand final.

"He's got a premiership medal now, but he's been in contention for mark of the year, goal of the year and the rising star and he's been very, very consistent. He's a 15-possession, five-tackle a game player with a goal or two – he's been a sensational acquisition to our club.

Asked if Dew's performance was vindication for Clarkson, who lured him out of a one-year retirement, the Hawthorn premiership coach didn't see it that way.

"We don't vindicate in terms of: 'Oh well, let's stick it up them and let's show everyone'. We always had great faith that he could play a very, very important role for us," Clarkson said.

"At the end of last year, we lost [Richie] Vandenberg, [Ben] Dixon and Joel Smith and we could understand if one of two of those were going to go out of the club, because they were nearing the end of their careers. For all three to go out at once, we needed to replace that type of player with just a bit of experience, maturity and leadership in our group.

"Dewy at 26 years of age was always someone who retired from the game too young.

"He needed to do a bit of work, because this time last year he wasn't in the greatest of nick, but to the credit of Andrew Russell, who worked with him at Port Adelaide and knows him very, very well and [assistant coach] Geoff Morris is great support for him.

"He's been an enormous acquisition to our club."