RAMPANT Hawthorn is in the top four for the first time this season after belting the Western Bulldogs by 72 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Despite missing injured superstar Lance Franklin, the Hawks lacked nothing in forward fluency, winning 17.14 (116) to 6.8 (44) to set up an irresistible clash with Collingwood at the MCG next Saturday afternoon.

Challenged in the first half, Hawthorn did what premiership aspirants tend to do: it softened up its opponent with body shots before delivering the knockout blow. The Hawks piled on 16 of the last 19 goals, and kept the Dogs to just 1.4 after half-time.

The Bulldogs' early intensity surprised the Hawks, and the plucky underdogs kicked three of the first four goals to lead by 10 points midway through the first term.

Then came the seemingly inevitable surge from Hawthorn, who kicked six of the next seven goals to lead by 20 points at the nine-minute mark of the second term.

Just when the Hawks appeared set to charge clear, the Bulldogs stabilised the contest until half-time, when they trailed by 19 points. But it was all Hawthorn after the long break.

Josh Gibson (29 disposals) and Grant Birchall (28) were great defensive architects for the Hawks, experienced midfielders Sam Mitchell (34) and Brad Sewell were prominent, while the restructured attack led by Jack Gunston (four goals) and usual defender Ryan Schoenmakers (two) was efficient.

Hawk genius Cyril Rioli had far greater influence than his 15 touches (along with 2.1 and three score assists) would suggest in a fascinating duel with tagger Liam Picken.

Brendan Whitecross and Jordan Lewis were also damaging players forward of centre for Hawthorn.

Bob Murphy (24 touches), who nullified Paul Puopolo and provided superb drive from defence, was easily the Dogs' best, while skipper Matthew Boyd amassed a game-high 37 disposals in his 200th game.

Brian Lake kept 150-gamer Jarryd Roughead to just two goals, and Shaun Higgins kicked three first-half goals from typically clinical set shots.

Bulldog backman Lukas Markovic was subbed out during the third quarter with a left hamstring problem.

The Hawks have now won nine of their past 10 games (including the past six in a row) by an average of 74 points, and comfortably boast the highest percentage in the competition, which could prove critical at the end of the minor rounds.

In stark contrast, the Bulldogs have lost six of their past seven matches (including the past four in succession) by an average of 61 points.

For the first time since their glory years of 1988-89, the Hawks have won four in a row against the Dogs.


WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.2    5.4     5.5         6.8     (44)
HAWTHORN                         4.3    8.5    14.10    17.14  (116)
 
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Higgins 3, Cordy, Dickson, Williams
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Breust 2, Lewis 2, Rioli 2, Roughead 2, Schoenmakers 2, Mitchell, Sewell, Whitecross
 
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Cross, Lake, Higgins, Picken, Murphy
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Birchall, Whitecross, Shiels, Gunston, Rioli
 
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Lukas Markovic (hamstring)
Hawthorn: Nil
 
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Lukas Markovic replaced by Jason Tutt in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Ryan Schoenmakers replaced by Kyle Cheney at three-quarter time
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Foot, Armstrong, Jeffery
 
Official crowd: 24,754 at Etihad Stadium
 
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club