A SIX-GOAL haul from Hawk Jarryd Roughead has powered Hawthorn to a 110-point thrashing of Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks taught the Demons a lesson in controlling possession and applying constant defensive pressure to cause turnovers, as they charged to a decisive 21.16 (142) to 4.8 (32) victory.
However, a hamstring injury to defender Ben Stratton and an incident featuring Jordan Lewis, likely to come under attention from the Match Review Panel, were the two worries out of the game.
Stratton came off in the third quarter after grabbing the back of his leg, and did not return, while Lewis collected Demons co-captain Nathan Jones at a centre bounce in the first quarter.
However, Lewis appeared to make made a legitimate attempt to thump the ball to his team's advantage when he made contact with Jones, who was left dazed with a cut above his eye.
The efficiency of the Hawks' forwards was the key difference in the game, as they kicked 10 goals to nil between the start of the second quarter and the 19-minute mark of the third term.
Reigning Coleman medallist Roughead stamped himself as a real contender to go back-to-back with a superb display up forward.
Usual defender Josh Gibson also booted successive goals – his first in Hawthorn colours – when moved to full forward in the fourth quarter.
Playing his first game of the pre-season, Grant Birchall did not miss a beat when mopping up across half-back, while star midfielder Sam Mitchell won a pile of the ball.
The Hawks were virtually impassable in defence and rebounded with conviction, led by Matt Suckling and captain Luke Hodge.
There was not much to write home about for Melbourne as it played clearly its worst game of the pre-season campaign.
Lynden Dunn battled manfully in defence, while Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross tried hard in the midfield.
A heavy collision between Demons Jack Grimes and James Frawley late in the final term ended a disappointing afternoon for the Demons.
MELBOURNE 2.2 2.3 3.5 4.8 (32)
HAWTHORN 3.5 9.8 16.13 21.16 (142)
GOALS
Melbourne: Howe 2, Byrnes, Spencer
Hawthorn: Roughead 6, Smith 2, Gibson 2, Langford 2, Breust, Shiels, Puopolo, McEvoy, Simpkin, Suckling, Hodge, Hill, Gunston
BEST
Melbourne: Dunn, Vince, Cross, Howe, Spencer
Hawthorn: Roughead, Mitchell, Birchall, McEvoy, Gunston, Suckling, Wanganeen
INJURIES
Melbourne: Jones (eye), Grimes (cut head)
Hawthorn: Stratton (hamstring)
CROWD: 9723 at Casey Fields
