Alastair Clarkson rejected suggestions a one-sided free-kick tally was to blame for Hawthorn’s narrow 10-point defeat to AFL ladder-leaders Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
The Power won the count 14-0 after half-time – and 20-8 overall – in front of their home fans at Adelaide Oval.
It was the first time in almost five years that a team did not receive a free kick in a half of football.
St Kilda copped similar bad luck in a loss to West Coast at Subiaco Oval in round 23, 2015.
“That’s just the swings and roundabouts of the game,” Hawks coach Clarkson said.
“Despite all that, we were even (on the scoreboard) at three-quarter time and Port got their hands on the footy (in the last quarter).
“That’s to their superior play, nothing to do with anything else.”
Despite their free-kick advantage, Port Adelaide were only marginally able to extend a nine-point lead from the main break.
“It goes for you sometimes and it goes against you other times,” Power coach Ken Hinkley said.
“It’s part of the game.
“It’s challenging at times when it goes against you … but I think the game’s collectively trying to be umpired fairly as best it can be.”
Port Adelaide dominated the contest in the final term, but it took a Zak Butters goal with two minutes left to finally kill off Hawthorn’s challenge.
Clarkson made six changes to his team and had to make do without a host of injured stars – including Jaeger O’Meara, James Frawley, Jack Gunston and James Sicily – but was proud of the undermanned Hawks in difficult circumstances.
They kicked the opening three goals and Clarkson was happy with the spirit they showed in captain Ben Stratton’s 200th game.
He denied criticism of Hawthorn as “sociable” during the week had provided additional motivation.
“It was a tough contest,” Clarkson said.
“We were playing the top-of-the-ladder side on their own patch and we really served it up to them.
“I’m sure Kenny and the Port crew would breathe a sigh of relief that they got out of a game that threatened to be a risky one for them.”