Coach Alastair Clarkson was fuming publicly and behind closed doors after Hawthorn held off an outstanding AFL challenge from St Kilda.
After a week of intense scrutiny, the Saints nearly pulled off one of the upsets of the season on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
But the Hawks won by four points and the 12.8 (80) to 11.10 (76) result sets up a massive SCG clash next Saturday night against Sydney.
Hawthorn are on a five-game winning streak and are fourth, while the Swans have won their last three and are fifth, on the same number of wins.
Given something would have to go disastrously wrong for third-placed Collingwood not to beat Fremantle in Perth, the Hawthorn-Sydney game will decide who takes fourth place and the double chance.
But Clarkson said his team will need to improve substantially on Saturday's performance.
"To be fair, the better side lost tonight - we're very, very fortunate that we've snuck away with four points," Clarkson said.
"We're going to find out a lot about ourselves over the next two, three or four weeks.
"I'm not sure how long it will last for us, but I don't think it will last very long if we play the sort of footy we played tonight.
"But full credit to the Saints - they were a lot better tonight than they were in the last couple."
Veteran Shaun Burgoyne, whose poise and class were crucial for the Hawks, said Clarkson was blistering in the rooms at halftime.
"I wasn't pleased with the way that we played," Clarkson said.
Hawthorn also lost James Frawley for the second half with a jarred back and Clarkson is unsure whether the key defender will play against Sydney.
It will be all hands on deck for the new-look Hawks defence, given Lance Franklin's hot form.
While disappointed to lose, Saints coach Alan Richardson said his team played with a lot of pride.
"When you're sitting where we are on the ladder and coming up against a team who's in really good form, we spoke about making sure that we were much stronger for longer than we have been," he said.
"For the first time in a while, I reckon we had 22 really strong contributors."
After the Saints lost Nathan Brown to suspension, fellow key defender Jake Carlisle was a late withdrawal because of a sore back.
Then Hawthorn kicked four goals to one in the first quarter and the signs were grim.
But the Saints hit back brilliantly, with Jarryn Geary shutting down Hawks playmaker Isaac Smith.
Jack Lonie kicked a career-best four goals, while Jack Steele, Seb Ross and Jade Gresham all were solid in the midfield.
But only one goal was kicked in the last quarter, with Jack Gunston and Jarman Impey taking crucial marks in defence as the Saints pressed.
Gunston earlier kicked four goals and was their best, along with Burgoyne.
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