Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson said his players played with an enormous amount of pride in the side's win over Brisbane at UTAS Stadium on Sunday.

The Hawks were able to pull off an unlikely win over the Lions, leading by as much as 53 points at three-quarter time before holding off the fast-finishing opposition by two goals. 

Clarkson said the team was able to overcome a challenging build-up to the game to put together one of its best performances of the season.

Match report: Hawks swoop on timid Lions

"I think the players were mindful of the fact that our club has been bashed around in the press over the last little while and that they're the first bunch of blokes that were going to be able to pull on the jumper and show the football world that this club has got some heart," Clarkson said.

"It's always had heart - you can't be on top of the ladder all the time - but we're going to find a way to get ourselves back there

"I think pulling on the brown and gold really meant something for our boys today."

Watch the full press conference below.