Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson joked he would have to put his inspirational vice-captain Luke Hodge in handcuffs to stop him playing in Saturday's AFL Grand Final against Geelong despite the star midfielder coughing up blood during the Hawks' emphatic preliminary final victory over St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday night.

Hodge, who was named in the All-Australian side for the second time this season, copped a heavy knock late in the first term and then another early in the second term - forcing him to leave the field briefly.

In between those two knocks, the 24-year-old was coughing up blood at quarter-time yet played out the game as the Hawks crushed St Kilda by 54 points to reach their first Grand Final since 1991.

Clarkson said despite the potentially serious nature of Hodge's injury, there was no way the Hawks' toughest player will miss next Saturday's decider.

"I dare say because he (Hodge) is such a tough bugger and because he was able to finish the game he will be OK (for next week)," Clarkson said of Hodge after Saturday night's nine-goal win over the Saints.

"I don't need to get any scans - he will play no matter what - and you would need to put him in handcuffs to stop him playing next week I reckon."

Hodge was also quick to downplay his injury after the game as he yet again proved he is one of the AFL's bravest players by finishing the game despite confirming he was coughing up blood at quarter-time.

"There was just a little bit (of blood), not too much, but that is all right," he said.

"It was just a normal knock you get in football and I think you are making a bigger deal out of it than what it was and everyone cops them in a game."

"The first couple of minutes after it (both knocks) I thought this is not good but once I went off and had a drink and a bit of a breather there was no problems."

Similarly, Clarkson said there was no concerns over the fitness of his champion spearhead Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who hurt his hand in the first term and also left the field for treatment before playing out the game.

However, Franklin, who came into this game with 110 goals for the season including eight in the qualifying final win against the Bulldogs a fortnight ago, was well below his best and managed