Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has apologised for his public anger at the end of Saturday's fiery AFL match against Essendon at the MCG.

Hawks football manager Mark Evans had to restrain Clarkson on the edge of the arena as the players left the field, following Essendon's 17-point win.

Clarkson was fuming for several reasons, but mainly because a massive bump from Bombers captain Matthew Lloyd had left Hawks midfielder Brad Sewell with a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.

"I'm a bit of a peanut that I'm so passionate about my footy, I suppose, Clarkson told Melbourne radio station SEN on Monday morning.

"In one sense it's the reason why we do things well, but on the odd occasion it's also why we let ourselves down poorly and I thought on the weekend that was the case with my actions post-game."

The loss eliminated the Hawks from finals contention and it is the first time in a decade that the reigning premiers have not made the top eight the following season.

In a terrible day for the Hawks, young ruckman Max Bailey suffered another knee injury and he will need his third reconstruction.

Clarkson vented his anger at a group of Essendon players that included star midfielder Jobe Watson.

"I've known Jobe for a long period of time," Clarkson said.

"That's just the passion of the game - I've come out onto the ground, I think he was shaping up to come and shake my hand.

"But with the blood boiling it was the last thing I wanted to do.

"If I was going to be (accommodating) of any Essendon player it would have been Jobe, but I didn't even want to speak to him, so it wasn't the way we wanted to finish our season, that's for sure."

In the rooms afterwards, Hawks hard man Campbell Brown continued his feud with Lloyd, calling the star Bombers forward a "sniper".

Brown added a thinly-veiled threat that he was looking forward to Lloyd playing again next year, so he could have revenge against the Essendon skipper.

"If we looked at things differently again we'd probably think that we should have handled things with a bit more candour that what we did, but it's a very, very passionate game of footy," Clarkson said.

"In most instances we pull our head in and handle it pretty well, sometimes your emotions get the better of you.

"On this particular occasion both Campbell and myself are probably the two most significant culprits at our club."

Lloyd is certain to be suspended for the bump, ruling him out of Friday night's elimination final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

His bump came only two days after Hawks star Lance Franklin failed to have his two-match suspension, also for a bump, overturned on appeal.

Brown's comments sparked a strong response on Sunday from Essendon.

"One, we are not happy with the attack on the character and integrity of our captain; two, the veiled threats made against Matthew; three, the comments that are prejudicial to a potential tribunal hearing this week, and four, the appalling set of double standards on display by Campbell Brown," Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.

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