After Hawthorn’s thumping 99-point victory over Gold Coast at the Metricon on Saturday night, hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at the five main points to take out of the game.

1. Hawk accuracy hurting opposition
The Hawks won by 99 points despite a relatively even contest around the ground on Saturday night thanks to their accuracy in front of goal. Both midfields generated plenty of inside 50s (Hawthorn 69, Gold Coast 53) but the scoring power and accuracy of Hawthorn was the difference. You could have been excused for believing the game was much closer than the scoreboard suggested if you hadn’t taken a look at the score at various stages. But almost every time Hawthorn had a scoring opportunity, they made it count, finishing with an accurate score line of 23.10.

It continues a trend for the Hawks to start the season, where they have kicked more goals than behinds in each of their opening four matches. Saturday night’s return though, was the best of the opening month, with the Hawks actually kicking 17.6 after quarter time.

The Hawks kicked 21.13 against the Lions in Round 1, 13.12 against the Bombers and a very accurate 21.11 against the Dockers in Round 3.

Hawthorn’s accuracy is the best of any team so far this season, with a conversion percentage of 69. The next best is Essendon with 66.3 per cent.
 

2. Stingy defence strikes again
Brian Lake, Ben Stratton and Ryan Schoenmakers haven’t played yet for the Hawks in 2014 but once again the depth at Waverley Park has meant they haven’t been missed too much.

Gold Coast had 53 inside 50s on Saturday night for just 14 scoring shots and Coach Alastair Clarkson was decidedly pleased with that effort by a defence consisting of unsung heroes like Kyle Cheney and Taylor Duryea.

Cheney has taken on the role as one of the Hawks’ key defenders with aplomb and acquitted himself well under pressure in one-on-one situations. He’s almost a Josh Gibson clone and will take some pushing from the side.

Saturday night’s effort comes on the back of restricting Fremantle to just five goals in three quarters in Round 3 and Essendon to three goals in a half in Round 2. Those results came with Angus Litherland in defence too, who made his AFL debut against the Bombers.
 

3. Dedication, doing the little things for the team
Hawthorn has built a reputation over the last couple of seasons as being a selfless team that is willing to do the hard things, to take the hits for the betterment of the team.

That mantra was personified by Liam Shiels in the second quarter on Saturday night.

In pursuit of a loose ball with Suns midfielder Jarrod Harbrow charging towards him, Shiels didn’t flinch, he charged straight at the ball, tapped it to Matt Suckling and got cleaned up by Harbrow in the process.

Suckling kicked a great snap goal as Shiels lay flat on the turf, hurting and left the field to receive treatment on his shoulder in the rooms.

He returned to play a key part in the victory but that moment was everything that Hawthorn stand for.
 

4. Goal spread
Jack Gunston (five goals) and Jarryd Roughead (four) were the star forwards for Hawthorn this week, but that is a changing landscape in itself. The Hawks have a plethora of options inside 50, with any one of Gunston, Roughead, Luke Breust, Cyril Rioli, David Hale and Paul Puopolo capable of kicking a bag.

But, while those six players combined for 15 of the 23 goals kicked on Saturday night, the other eight were booted by players who play midfield or half back.

The Hawks, in each of their four games this season have had 10 or more individual goal kickers. They had 12 on Saturday night.

Forwards are paid to kick goals but it is the ones that come from the midfielders or half backs that are the most valuable and Hawthorn, at the moment, have the luxury of strength in both areas.
 

5. Langford does the job
For the second week running, young Will Langford has nullified the influence of the opposition’s best player and Saturday night’s victim was none other than the best player in the league.

While Ablett still managed 35 disposals, his influence on the game wasn’t profound.

He was harassed, tackled and made to earn every one of those touches and because of that, his ability to release teammates into space was limited. His disposal efficiency for the night was 68.6 per cent.