HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says he believes the AFL will seriously look at introducing substitutes to replace injured players.

The Hawks beat the Sydney Swans by 11 points but looked to be in serious trouble after losing Cyril Rioli at the eight-minute mark of the first quarter to a hamstring injury.

Minor injuries to Luke Hodge and Xavier Ellis followed and the Hawks’ rotations were thrown into disarray.

“It’s an interesting debate and I’m sure the AFL will look at it over the last half of the season. I noticed the Kangas yesterday were pretty down on numbers from early in the game,” Clarkson said.

“It can influence the result the way the game is played nowadays. What the actual solution is to it I’m not too sure but they’ll work that out over time.

"The AFL makes really good decisions when it comes to player welfare and interchanges. I dare say it will be looked at pretty closely.”

Clarkson admitted to a sense of delight when three consecutive 50m penalties against Barry Hall resulted in a Hawthorn goal from point blank range to give them the buffer of a 10-point lead.

Clarkson was honest when asked his feeling at seeing the three penalties.

 “Elation. It’s always a real arm wrestle, especially with the conditions today,” he said.

“To get a goal like that put a smile on our face but you’d like to get your goals by your own good play rather more so than the mistakes of the opposition.”

Hall’s frustration bubbled over towards the end of a dour struggle with Robbie Campbell who adapted well to the role of key defender after spending much of his career as a ruckman.

Clarkson praised Campbell for stepping up to boost the Hawks’ injury-ravaged backline.

“It’s pretty important for us because without Croad and Gilham for the bulk of the season he has had to play different roles and he acquitted himself pretty well today,” he said.

“Hall’s been in very good form and there are a lot of contests where Robbie negated the influence of Hall which is important for us. Until we get Croad and Gilham and those sorts of boys back in the side he is going to need to continue to play that sort of role for us.

“The Brisbane Lions are presenting a couple of big monsters down there for him next week. Which one he takes I’m not too sure but he’ll continue to play that role for us until we get some of our bigger brutes back.”