IT'S TIME to stop debating whether West Coast is a reliable proposition in Melbourne.
On Sunday afternoon, the Eagles' train continued to thunder towards September as they tightened their grip on top spot by beating Hawthorn by 15 points at Etihad Stadium.
The 11.9 (75) to 9.6 (60) win was the first time they've beaten the Hawks in Melbourne since round 14, 2006, back when they were coached by John Worsfold and led by Chris Judd.
And if we're talking omens, that was also the season in which the Eagles won their third premiership.
Led by midfielder Andrew Gaff (35 disposals) in a brilliant display and Elliot Yeo, who had 28 touches despite playing with the knee he hurt a week ago heavily strapped, the Eagles held off the Hawks, who just kept having a go.
The only low point for the Eagles was a seemingly innocuous interaction in which Willie Rioli patted the hip of umpire Ray Chamberlain in an incident that will have to be reviewed by the match review officer after the four umpire contact issues that have preceded it this season.
After losing their way last week against Brisbane, the Hawks were much better – despite being plagued by second-half turnovers – and didn't let the ladder-leaders out of their sight until the last quarter.
A third goal to Jaeger O'Meara at the 20-minute mark of the term even gave them a sniff after a Josh Kennedy major that came courtesy of a contentious free kick blew out the margin to a game-high 19 points.
However, it wasn't meant to be with the Hawks failing to score after that.
It was a thoroughly absorbing contest, set up by a closely-fought first half in which the biggest difference was 12 points.
The Eagles had a slight edge in the third quarter, with turnovers killing the Hawks despite them taking the ball inside 50 three more times, with Chris Masten lighting up the stadium with a remarkable goal from the boundary at the 17-minute mark.
However, a silky major to Isaac Smith shortly before the siren snuffed out the chance of an Eagles' breakaway before three-quarter time, and the difference at the final change was just six points.
As enthralling as the contest had been, it still needed an individual to make a stand as the teams lined up for the restart.
After the Eagles won the first centre clearance of the quarter and Nic Naitanui goaled after pulling down a typically impressive contested mark, it looked like there was a contender.
Naitanui was the most prolific ruckman on the field, with his goal capping off an impressive performance against Ben McEvoy and feel-good story Jonathon Ceglar, who didn't make a huge impact in his first AFL game in nearly two years.
But Ceglar, on return from a knee reconstruction, provided one of the highlights of the afternoon when he celebrated a first-quarter goal with every one of his teammates.
It's the first time since the start of last season the Hawks have lost three games in a row, which has left them marooned outside of the eight and with the questions about their finals credentials getting louder.
More to come
HAWTHORN 3.1 6.3 8.6 9.6 (60)
WEST COAST 3.2 6.3 9.6 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Hawthorn: O'Meara 3, Impey 2, Hardwick, Smith, Ceglar, Puopolo
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Rioli 2, LeCras, Gaff, Masten, Cripps, Waterman, Naitanui
BEST
Hawthorn: Smith, Frawley, Hardwick, Roughead, O'Meara
West Coast: Gaff, Redden, Yeo, Hurn, Rioli, Naitanui
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Ceglar replaced Cousins (concussion) in selected team
West Coast: Sheed (cut head), Sheppard (thumb,
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Chamberlain, Wallace
Official crowd: 28,077 at Etihad Stadium
