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Unconvincing ladder leaders have Port in their sights

Hawthorn sit atop the AFL ladder, but coach Alastair Clarkson admits he’d like to see more from the side when it takes on Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Thursday week.

Jun 27, 2016, updated Jun 27, 2016
Gary Ablett turned back the clock with 40 possessions and a goal against the Hawks yesterday. Photo: Rob Blakers, AAP.

Gary Ablett turned back the clock with 40 possessions and a goal against the Hawks yesterday. Photo: Rob Blakers, AAP.

Yesterday’s 26-point win over Gold Coast in Launceston took the reigning premiers to 11 wins for the season, making them competition leaders.

But Clarkson conceded the side is still far from its best form and failed to produce a convincing win.

“I’d like to think we can improve a little bit,” the coach said following the 12.14 (86) to 8.12 (60) result.

“It’s probably mainly to do with consistency from quarter to quarter.”

At York Park, the Suns dominated most of the first half and at one stage opened a margin of 21 points before Hawthorn found some form.

Clarkson said his troops respond when they need to and credited strong leadership and composure among senior players, including captain Luke Hodge, who made a successful return from injury, finishing with 28 disposals.

“We’ve particularly played well when we’ve really needed to play well and found ourselves in really tough contests,” Clarkson said.

“We would be hopeful that there is some further improvement in our young players.

“And just the simple fact that our captain might play a fair bulk of the second half of the year will be really important for us too.”

Hawthorn has a bye next round before taking on Port Adelaide on July 7.

“It will be good to have a bit of a deep breath for four or five days and then get ourselves ready for what promises to be a really fascinating battle against Port Adelaide,” Clarkson said.

Suns coach Rodney Eade hopes the return from injury of more key players will help his Gold Coast side find the win they couldn’t get against Hawthorn.

The Suns dominated for most of the first half, with Eade lauding an improvement in form on the side’s previous 17-point loss to Richmond.

“It was a big step forward, but we just can’t be content with that,” he told reporters.

“We just can’t accept ‘close enough is good enough’… we’ve just got to be able to, like good sides do, capitalise on our chances. That’s either going inside 50 or going forward and also in front of goal.”

Forwards Sam Day, Tom Lynch and Peter Wright drew praise from Eade.

“Sam is a key player with us – he’s just a different player to the other two.

“He’s got real speed and now that we know he’s a different dynamic, I think we can play all three.”

When the Suns host St Kilda on Saturday, Eade hopes to welcome back three instrumental players in Jack Martin (back), Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) and Callum Ah Chee (calf).

“(Adam) Saad, I don’t think will be next week. He tightened up, we’ll probably have to give him another week. Jesse Lonergan is probably the week after,” the coach said.

After being 10 players down at the height of their injury crisis, Eade sees a light ahead.

“Morale has been terrific. The spirit among the group has really solidified,” he said.

The aim for the rest of the season was to help shape the final four and win as many games along the way as possible, Eade said.

“Once we start to get some players back, we can hopefully make some inroads with the wins.”

-AAP

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