HAWTHORN has landed an early blow on premiership rival West Coast and bounced back from an Easter Monday loss to Geelong with a dominant 46-point triumph in Sunday's Grand Final rematch.
On the day injured star Jarryd Roughead unfurled the past three premiership flags, the Hawks reawakened the Eagles' demons with a frightening reminder of their mastery of the MCG in a 14.15 (99) to 7.11 (53) win.
There were 14 changes from last year's season-decider – seven on each side – with several big names missing, none larger than Hawks skipper Luke Hodge and Roughead.
But six months to the day since they delivered a third-straight flag, Alastair Clarkson's juggernaut got their 2016 campaign rolling with an eerily similar performance – with the final margin matching the Grand Final victory.
Hawthorn hunted West Coast at the contest and ran the Eagles ragged with precise ball movement, racking up more disposals (457-292), dominating uncontested possessions (303-153) and inside 50s (68-34) in a commanding display.
"We needed to respond from last week's loss. We were really disappointed with our performance against the Cats and we knew we had to play some of our best footy and we were pleased we were able to do that," Clarkson said post-match.
"In all three phases of the game, whether we had the ball, West Coast had the ball or when it was in dispute we thought we were strong and that is really important against West Coast."
The shellshocked Eagles struggled to get their hands on the ball, but when they did their foot skills were deplorable and their decision-making crumbled under intense pressure.
In scenes reminiscent of last October, the writing was the on the wall almost from the opening bounce.
Hawthorn dominated field position (19 inside 50s to five to quarter-time) as the Eagles' backline collapsed under the sheer weight of incoming ball and conceded the opening five goals, effectively killing the contest.
West Coast scrapped hard to get the game back towards an even keel, but from 21 points down at half-time the result never looked in any doubt.
"They outplayed us in every area of the game," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.
"We just didn't put ourselves in any position to compete – inside, outside or (with our) ball-use.
"I thought our defenders actually did OK considering the supply … they probably should've won by more."
Reigning best and fairest Josh Gibson ran amok across half-back for Hawthorn, picking up 44 touches - the equal-most disposals of any player in club history - and icing a supreme performance with his first goal for Hawthorn in the final term.
Tireless veteran Sam Mitchell (37 disposals) orchestrated the Hawks' midfield, while pacy wingman Isaac Smith (33) and Billy Hartung (32) repeatedly broke the lines and pierced the Eagles' defensive zone.
Emerging young forward James Sicily responded to a quiet Easter Monday performance by booting four majors, while Norm Smith medallist Cyril Rioli (four) again haunted the Eagles and Luke Breust (one) caused trademark havoc.
The Hawks had winners everywhere but yet again the Eagles had too many passengers.
After a poor Grand Final, Eagles forward Jack Darling was one of the few who could hold his head high after booting three goals from limited supply.
Last week's eight-goal hero Josh Kennedy – held goalless by James Frawley last October - was forced to work high up the ground to find the ball and tried hard despite only booting the solitary major.
Recruit Jack Redden (19 disposals) and full-back Eric Mackenzie never gave up, however ex-Sydney Swans speedster Lewis Jetta (eight) looked out of sorts in a quiet debut.
While Hawthorn's quest for a record-equalling four-straight flags is now up and running, the MCG monkey on the Eagles' back is fast turning into a gorilla.
They have now lost 11 of their past 14 matches at the Grand Final venue – with two of those wins coming against Melbourne – and Adam Simpson's men have only two more trips to get better acquainted with the football Mecca this season.
MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Luke Breust had a cut to his head that needed attention, but didn't restrict his performance. Ben McEvoy came off for the blood rule from a cut on his cheek in the third term, although it was only a minor nuisance and he played out the game.
West Coast: Luke Shuey rolled an ankle in the warm-up and the Eagles had to nurse him through, but he and Liam Duggan (ankle) should be fine for the Western Derby. Otherwise the Eagles escaped unscathed.
NEXT UP
Hawthorn faces another test against the rampant Western Bulldogs at their Etihad Stadium fortress next Sunday, while the Eagles fly home with only a six-day break before facing a crunch Western Derby against a winless Fremantle.
HAWTHORN 4.4 7.8 11.11 14.15 (99)
WEST COAST 0.2 4.5 7.8 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Rioli 4, Sicily 4, McEvoy, Gunston, Lewis, O'Rourke, Breust, Gibson
West Coast: Darling 3, Kennedy, Redden, McGovern, Cripps
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Sicily, Duryea, Hartung, Smith, Frawley
West Coast: Redden, Kennedy, Darling, MacKenzie
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
West Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Meredith, Ryan
Official crowd: 42,977 at the MCG
