Jason Blake and Colm Begley of St KIlda collide with Grant Birchall of Hawthorn during the AFL Round 19 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the St Kilda Saints at Aurora Stadium. Slattery Images
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says the disruption caused by a raft of players requiring off-season surgery was just one of several factors which ruined the side’s defence of its 2008 AFL premiership.
Clarkson says the Hawks will go into the 2010 season with a much fitter list, but emphasised they needed to improve dramatically in a number of areas.
Centre half-back Trent Croad did not play at all this year after suffering a serious foot injury in the 2008 grand final, while several other key players had interrupted campaigns following post-season operations.
“We had a fair amount of post-season surgery last year and we’ve had a little bit this year as well, but we’ve been able to get that surgery done a lot earlier this season than last,” said Clarkson on Wednesday before the club’s first pre-season training session.
“We’re anticipating by early to mid-November we’ll have the bulk of our squad out on the track.
“There are so many variables that influence performance and that’s certainly one of them.
“But we don’t make any excuses – we were poor in a number of areas.
“We’d gone from No.1 one in the competition in scoring goals from centre bounces to No.16.
“You can’t just put that down to injuries.
“We were poor in a lot of areas and we need to improve.”
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