Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson reviews his team’s 14-point win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

On Hawthorn's performance overall…

"We were able to execute the basics of the game a lot better than the last time we came to Adelaide. Adelaide are a really good defensive side, as their ladder position indicates. We needed to compete really well, plus their midfield is really strong so we needed to negate that the best we could. (Sam) Jacobs is a powerhouse in the ruck and (Rory) Sloane is one of the most impressive midfielders in the game, so they do get good supply and we needed to really compete well in that part of the ground. We did that for the best part of the night and it was really pleasing."

On what they did right against Adelaide…

"By and large it was just about getting back to the basics of executing, (and start doing) the things we know we can do particularly well. We weren’t defending very well behind the ball and I think we did that a lot better tonight. We took over 20 marks off the opposition’s boot, when we’ve been averaging 10 or 12. Some of that has to do with guys like (Luke) Hodge and (Grant) Birchall coming back into the side and guiding the younger guys. I think we saw some of the future of the Hawthorn defence on display tonight."

On maintaining their work rate…

"It’s just about sticking to (our) process and reminding one another that if we keep on chipping away, the rewards will come. We worked hard in the third quarter and kicked three goals, then just gave one away from a kick in turnover that had Adelaide up by a goal at three quarter-time. It was just persevering, (getting) those scramble balls that were 50-50 or maybe even favouring Adelaide in the first half. With perseverance, they started to fall our way. I thought we played terrifically well all game, but when the game was on the line and we were facing an opposition and hostile crowd, we were able to hang in the contest, drive the ball forward and give ourselves enough chances to win.

"When you’re coming up against a good side, at different stages they’re going to get a look at it and do some special things. Sometimes you just can’t control those. When the ball is in our hands, try and do some good things with it and when it’s in their hands, try to negate the influence they have."

On containing Adelaide’s run…

"They are one of the best sides, if not the best side in the competition, at rebounding from their back end and going all the way into attack. (Rory) Laird and (Brodie) Smith are usually outstanding and while they got a sniff at the ball tonight, they weren’t able to get that rebound like they usually do."

On Shaun Burgoyne’s influence…

"When we first recruited him from Port Adelaide, I said to him “unless we get three years out of you, you’re better off staying at Port” and I think he’s up to seven or eight now. I hope he keeps on going, as he’s a ripper. He’s a great role model for his teammates and our footy club and he doesn’t look like slowing down. He played a really pivotal role for us tonight, both up forward and on ball. We knew that we needed to have strong bodies in the middle to compete against Adelaide and he also played up forward and kicked a couple of important goals for us."

On former Crow Ricky Henderson’s milestone game…

"It was his 100th game. He was keen to play well in a milestone game and we were keen to help him out. He’s playing against the team that he’s played 90 or so of those games for, so (considering that) he played particularly well. Kicked a couple of really important goals and had upward of 30 possessions… he was an important player for us on the wing. He knows this ground pretty well, obviously, so we were really pleased for him and he’s played a pretty important role for us so far."

On how to approach the unpredictable state of the competition…

"It’s a really even season and not too much separates a lot of the sides. Even with Brisbane last week, who are propping up the table at the present time, they knocked off Freo in a really good victory last week. We’ve knocked off the top team this week. It’s a pretty close season, but we just take it week by week. Give opportunities to the younger players that we think are going to be the future of our footy club and balance that with some of the guys that have been around for a long period time. We'll work out a way forward and plan for our next premiership."