Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has brought attention to his side's free kick total following Saturday night's thrilling draw between the Hawks and Demons.

Clarkson's side were able to snatch two premiership points after a hard-fought comeback over the premiership contenders, with veteran froward Luke Breust levelling the scores at 79 apiece in the dying moments of the match.

While the tie was seen as a strong result for the 17th-placed Hawks, Clarkson expressed his disappointment in the lack of reward his side received for their tackling efforts.

โ€œThe disappointing part was we had over 80 tackles and only three holding the balls โ€” we just didnโ€™t get rewarded for our super effort in that space,โ€ Clarkson said post-match, perย Fox Footy.ย 

โ€œWe would like to think that the effort we applied in terms of our tackling we wouldโ€™ve got a little bit more reward in some of the free kicks.โ€

Hawthorn's pressure on ladder-leaders Melbourne was a key factor in the struggling Waverley side's heroic ending, with the Hawks' ruthless pressure resulting in the Demons' collapse.

Hawthorn's tally of 81 tackles for the game was a season-high, with veteran Shaun Burgoyne leading the way with nine of his own.

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The draw places Hawthorn four point clear of the last-placed Kangaroos, who will need an emphatic victory over Essendon on Sunday to move away from the foot of the ladder.

While Melbourne's premiership credentials took a hit, the Demons remain at the summit of the league thanks to a two-point buffer over the Bulldogs.