Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says it isn’t the end of an era for the Hawks despite finals exit

AN exhausted Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge was deflated but philosophical following Friday night’s 23-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

It was a tough night for Sam Mitchell. Picture: Getty Images.

“THAT’S footy”.

An exhausted Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge was deflated but philosophical following Friday night’s 23-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

It’s out in straight sets for the triple-premiership Hawks, who Hodge said were simply outdone by the fast and “entertaining” Dogs, who are off to Sydney to take on Greater Western Sydney for a preliminary final next Saturday.

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“We’ve been pretty fortunate over the last few years with results and obviously tonight was disappointing,” Hodge said.

“We had our opportunities early and didn’t really capitalise when we could have. They moved the ball well, were composed and they’re an entertaining team when they get it on their terms.”

Hawthorn players leave the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Alastair Clarkson is adamant that his triple-premiership team’s dethroning doesn’t spell the end of an era.

“No good, this losing caper, is it? We’re not used to it at this time of year,” Clarkson said.

“The Bulldogs played a fantastic brand of footy. We just didn’t capitalise on a couple of chances to really hurt them in the second quarter.

“I know what the papers are going to say — that it’s the end of an era, that they’re too old and too slow. We’ll just have a little bit of a break, reload and go again.

“That No. 2 (Jarryd Roughead) coming back next year will be handy for us.”

There is an element of “what if” to the way things have panned out over the last fortnight, Clarkson said, after star wingman Isaac Smith missed a goal after the siren in last week’s three-point loss to Geelong.

But he acknowledged the dominance of the Bulldogs, who he said he hadn’t seen play better this year than last night.

“(This group has) delivered so much for this footy club over a long period of time,” he said.

“(The Dogs) had a night out.”

Alastair Clarkson says it isn’t the end of an era for the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images.

Clarkson went to the Bulldogs’ rooms to congratulate former protégé Luke Beveridge on taking his team to a preliminary final, where he will face another of Clarkson’s former apprentices in Leon Cameron.

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“I’ve got a healthy respect for those two lads,” he said.

“One of those boys is going to be coaching in a Grand Final, which is fantastic.”

Gold Coast young gun Jaeger O’Meara has indicated he would like to get to Hawthorn in the trade period, with Clarkson saying the club will consider all draft, trade and free agency options as they look to rebound from the finals exit in 2017.

Originally published as Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says it isn’t the end of an era for the Hawks despite finals exit