Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is confident his side will reach this year's AFL finals, but admits a top-four finish is now probably beyond them.

The Hawks slumped to a 6-7 win-loss record following their shock 20-point loss to West Coast at a windy and rain swept Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

And it could get even uglier for Clarkson's charges over the coming month, with tough matches against the Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Collingwood and Geelong to come.

Of those four teams, only the Kangaroos sit outside the top four but Clarkson remained adamant the Hawks would still feature in September.

"It's pretty tight (on the ladder) and as we continue to lose games you have to readjust your aims for the season," Clarkson said.

"So many sides are aiming for top four and that's getting harder and harder by the week.

"Both us and Carlton are sharing six wins at the present time and they are just inside the eight on percentage.

"I'm quite firm of the belief that we can string some games together and get ourselves in a position where we can challenge for the eight, but we are going to need do that sooner rather than later.

"Collingwood and Adelaide five weeks ago were three wins and five losses and many were believing they weren't going to feature in September at all, but now they've won five on end and don't look like being pushed out of the eight.

"If you build momentum in your season anything can happen."

Hawthorn are almost certain to be without Mark Williams for Saturday night's clash with the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium after the small forward injured his knee against the Eagles.

He will undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of the damage.

But premiership pair Stuart Dew (quad) and Stephen Gilham (virus) are likely to return after both were late withdrawals against the Eagles.

Clarkson said "terrible blunders" in the defensive end cost his side victory against the Eagles.

Jarryd Roughead booted five goals and captain Sam Mitchell tallied an amazing 40 possessions, 13 clearances and 10 inside 50s but the Hawks failed to take full advantage of a strong breeze.

West Coast's boom recruit Nic Naitanui booted three goals in the final term to help seal the 16.11 (107) to 13.9 (87) victory for the Eagles.

"One thing out of this season, despite our disappointing win-loss, is we've given a lot of young lads a lot of opportunity to play senior footy and at different stages they've acquitted themselves really well," Clarkson said.

"And we'll get some sort of benefit out of that at some point going forward but right at the present time it's not helping us win games of footy in the immediate term.

"We just need to keep playing those lads and give them every opportunity.

"They're going to get better."

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