Even if they somehow scrape into the AFL finals, defending premiers Hawthorn have had one eye on next year.

The impressive strategies and discipline that defined last year's triumph are simply lacking.

The Hawks used handball too often and made basic errors on Saturday as unbeaten St Kilda downed them by 25 points in Launceston.

"We just didn't take our chances, seven of their 10 goals came from turnovers through the middle of the ground," said coach Alastair Clarkson.

"Some of that was St Kilda's really good play ... some of it was just dreadful skill errors by our side.

"We need to improve in that area of the game and unless we do, we're going to be a middle-of-the-road side, like we've shown throughout the course of this year.

"Some of it will be due to the systems with which we play ... and some of it will be due to personnel."

Scoring the first goal of the final term was going to be crucial for the Hawks, but Thomas Murphy slipped over in the middle of the ground and lost possession.

The Saints swooped and goalled to effectively seal the match.

In the first half, ruckman Simon Taylor gave away two silly marks, prompting television commentator Robert Walls to savage him, saying: "I don't think he's very smart."

With three rounds left, the Hawks will be two games away from eighth spot if Port Adelaide beat Fremantle on Sunday.

"We're not too concerned about finals, as much as we are about just getting our method of play right," Clarkson said.

"We're probably not going to feature deep into September and we've probably known about that for some time, but it's all about getting of systems of play in order.

"We're not playing anywhere near to the level that we'd like to at the present time, that's all we'll concentrate on over the last three weeks of the season.

"If we do that well, irrespective of how the final result works out, then at least we can go into the summer knowing we've put some things in place that will hopefully improve our footy for next year."

Clarkson said they were a step below the top four contenders, who in turn could also not match St Kilda.

"Every team that's come up against them (the Saints) are trying to pull apart their system and they're doing it outstandingly well," he said.

"We're nowhere near the level of the Geelongs, Western Bulldogs and Adelaides and these types of sides who are trying to pull them apart."

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