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Veteran Brad Sewell, ruckman Jonathon Ceglar and Jonathan Simpkin were the unlucky three to miss out against the Swans, all named on the emergencies list as the Hawks claimed back-to-back premierships.
Ceglar and Simpkin can count themselves particularly unlucky after the two were left out of the side for fit-again star Cyril Rioli and big man Ben McEvoy.
While many pundits expected Simpkin to miss out after Rioli proved he had overcome a hamstring problem, Clarkson said it didn’t make the decision any easier.
"Simpkin was really stiff (to miss out). It was probably obvious to everyone that he was going to be the one to miss if Cyril was able to get up and we knew that for some time without being absolutely sure that Cyril was going to get through.
"But there can't be sentiment in these kind of decisions, there needs to be methodical decision making based on what we think is the best line-up to play for our club help us win the flag."
Clarkson reserved praise for Rioli, saying the 25-year-old did everything right in order to get his body ready for the penultimate game of the season.
"His training over the last two to three weeks has been really good, albeit he only played a little bit of game time last week at Box Hill, it was enough for us to be convinced he was able to get through a game of footy today," Clarkson said.
"We've got a basketball ring in our warm up area and I walked into the change rooms after the parade yesterday and saw Cyril dunking the ball.
"I thought to myself "Well if he's prepared to dunk a footy he's going to be OK today" so I was pleased to see that."
When asked about his decision to leave out Ceglar, Clarkson was forthright in saying it was a particularly hard one due to his relationship with the 23-year-old's family.
"Ceglar was really stiff he missed out. He's a young player, he's got enormous character. I've known is family for over 25 years," Clarkson said.
"It was really hard call for me personally to make because I've got enormous admiration of rhis father and that whole family."
But tough as they might have been, there can be no denying Clarkson's selection decisions were more than vindicated as the Hawks strolled to their second flag in as many years.