Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has warned of dire consequences for his inconsistent side, unless they can improve their ball flow and kick bigger scores.
The Hawks totalled just 27 points in their loss to Collingwood at Giants Stadium in Sydney on Friday.
It was the third time in their five games since the competition resumed that Hawthorn have squeezed out less than 50 points.
By the end of the first three quarters they had posted just six, 13 and 14 points, respectively, and then kicked 1.7 in the final period.
They moved the ball slowly and looked impotent as an attacking unit.
“We’re 3-3, and our season is still alive, but it won’t be if we continue to play like tonight,” Clarkson said.
“We’ve got to get better, we understand that and we’ll do our best to try and see some improvement by the end of the next game.”
“We had an inability to get some flow with the ball when we had the opportunity.
“We’ll try to address those things and see if we can see some improvement.
“The bottom line is we have to improve in that space otherwise we are going to find ourselves losing a lot of games of footy.”
The Hawks prospects of winning their first game in five attempts at Giants Stadium nosedived, when key forward and former GWS star Jon Patton limped off the ground in the first quarter.
Playing on his old home ground for the first time as a Hawk, Patton appeared distraught on the bench.
He has had three knee reconstructions but the latest injury is to a hamstring, with scans to reveal the full extent of the problem.
“There’s empathy in the whole football world for someone who has had as much injury as what he has,” Clarkson said
“He’s got another challenge to overcome now and disappointing for him it’s a setback but it’s not insurmountable, he’ll return.”
One bright spot for Clarkson was an assured debut by defender Will Day.
Hawthorn will return to Giants Stadium next Sunday to play Melbourne.
© AAP
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