HAWTHORN has finished its pre-season campaign with a commanding 81-point over North Melbourne in Craigieburn on Saturday afternoon.

After failing to register a win during the NAB Cup, the Hawks were much improved in their final hit out before Round 1, displaying great intensity and attack on the man and the ball.

Despite a slow start, where the Kangaroos controlled the footy for the opening 10 minutes of the game, the Hawks flicked the switch mid-way through the term, led by star forward Lance Franklin.

Franklin was everywhere in the opening term, looking a refreshed player after enjoying the week off last weekend, pushing further up the ground and impacting the contest.

The Hawks, led by Franklin, midfielder Jordan Lewis and utility David Hale, opened an 11-point advantage at quarter time before dominating the second term at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

As the rain began to fall, so did the goals at the Hawthorn scoring end, booting four goals to one in a dominant second term. Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell were prominent in the middle as Josh Gibson, Ryan Schoenmakers and Grant Birchall patrolled the backline, restricting North Melbourne’s ability to make any impact up forward.

It was a commanding display by the Hawthorn engine room who dominated a North Melbourne midfield missing star players Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell and Daniel Wells.

The Kangaroos were also missing key defender Scott Thompson, meaning Nathan Grima and then forward Lachie Hansen were forced to defend a towering Hawthorn forward line consisting of Franklin, Hale, Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston.

With the Hawthorn midfield supplying the Hawthorn forwards with a number of opportunities, there was never a shortage of scoring chances for the Hawks. A pleasing stat for Coach Alastair Clarkson would have been the accuracy of his forwards in blustery conditions, booting 19.8 for the game.

The second half was all Hawthorn as they built an insurmountable lead, booting 11 goals to two for the half.
The Hawks dominated the clearances, seeing the game played almost exclusively in the Hawthorn forward half. Max Bailey was impressive in the ruck and when young ruckman Sam Grimley entered  the fray, the Hawks forward line looked even more dangerous.

It was in the third term where the Hawks asserted their authority on the game, kicking nine goals to one in an impressive display. Franklin booted two for the quarter and defenders Birchall and Ben Stratton also found their way into the forward line, making an impact on the scoreboard.

The margin could have been worse for North Melbourne had the game not been called off by the AFL in conjunction with the two sides, due to torrential downpour in a final term that lasted just 13 minutes and 55 seconds.
With both teams playing with an eight-man bench, Clarkson chose to rest Roughead, Gibson and Xavier Ellis for the second half.
It was an impressive final tune up for the Hawks who take on the Cats in a blockbuster Round 1 clash on Easter Monday.

FINAL SCORE
North Melbourne 2.4 3.8 4.9 5.11 (41)
Hawthorn 4.3 8.5 17.7 19.8 (122)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Petrie 2, Harvey 2, Tarrant,
Hawthorn: Hale 4, Franklin 3, Gunston 3, Grimley 3, Duryea, Smith, Breust, Roughead, Birchall, Stratton
BEST
North Melbourne: Grima, Cunnington, Adams, Harvey
Hawthorn – Franklin, Mitchell, Lewis, Hale, Gunston, Birchall
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Hawthorn: Gibson, Ellis (leg)

Reports:
David Hale (Hawthorn) for making forceful front-on contact with Leigh Adams (North) in the first quarter
Taylor Hine (North) for making forceful front-on contact with Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) in the third quarter