Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits his team remains an unknown quantity this season as injuries again contributed to a last-quarter fade-out against one of the AFL's best sides.

The Hawks led early in the last term, before being over-run by the Western Bulldogs, who kicked six of the last eight goals to win a bone-jarring encounter 14.16 (100) to 12.12 (84) at Etihad Stadium.

Both sides were hit hard by injury.

The Bulldogs lost defender Ryan Hargrave (neck) in the opening minutes, flattened by Hawthorn ruckman Brent Renouf.

Hawks defender Josh Gibson went off with a hamstring injury minutes later.

Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis (head) was stretchered off after a sickening collision with the Dogs' Jarrod Harbrow just before halftime, while the Bulldogs lost Jason Akermanis (hamstring) and Liam Picken (ankle) in the second half.

The match mirrored Hawthorn's equally bruising encounter with Geelong at the MCG on Monday, which they also led early in the last quarter, before being overwhelmed.

In that match they were also hampered by injuries, losing Rhan Hooper (hamstring) and Jordan Lewis (ankle), while their ability to field only one recognised ruckman, Renouf, has hurt them in the first three rounds, losing the last quarter every time.

Despite their 1-2 record, Clarkson said he had faith his side could match any opposition, with the help of a better run with injuries, and with midfielders Brad Sewell, Shaun Burgoyne and Clinton Young on the verge of returning.

"I reckon that every tipster in the competition, in terms of where the Hawks were going to finish this year, those (questions) are still unanswered more or less and might be for some time," Clarkson said.

"But we've got faith and confidence in our group, if we get our group up and going and have a little bit of luck with injuries.

"... When you lose (players) two weeks in a row in the first five minutes of the game, that really stretches your capacity to rotate and keep blokes fresh and fit.

"We'll back ourselves against any side in the comp when we just have a little bit of fortune with our boys."

Clarkson also backed star forward Lance Franklin - kept goal-less by Brian Lake - to strike form soon.

The Hawks face another huge test against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said his team were fortunate to lead at halftime, after being "smashed" in winning the contested ball early and using the ball poorly throughout the match.

But they won the lion's share of the ball after halftime, with only a few cheap turnovers and some errant kicking for goal - nine consecutive behinds during the third quarter - stopping them from putting Hawthorn away sooner.

"We're not playing that well, we've certainly got a lot of improvement to do, there's no doubt, but that's OK, that's fine," Eade said.

"A lot of players have been patchy, most of them have done something at some stage over the three weeks so they're certainly not completely bereft of form, but certainly as a unit we're not playing 100 per cent at the moment."

He said ruckman Will Minson, who gave away a costly 50m penalty in the opening round against Collingwood, could be dropped to the VFL, after giving up another on Sunday and also botching a simple set shot in the third term.

The Bulldogs face undefeated Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

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