In front of a raucous 76,703 qualifying final crowd, the Hawks took control of the game midway through the first quarter and set about hammering home the advantage to win in fine style, 18.19 (127) to 11.10 (76).
Twelve months on from its nervous semi-final exit against North Melbourne, the Hawks displayed all the traits of a seasoned finals campaigner as it systematically dismantled a sadly out of form and tentative Bulldogs outfit.
As it was a season ago, week one of finals was the Buddy Franklin show.
The 196cm Hawk goliath kicked five first-half goals en route to a match-winning eight in another awesome display of athleticism and sheer brilliance that was best summed up by former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon, who described him as a “once in a lifetime player.”
Despite the best efforts of Dale Morris and Brian Lake, and a raft of players dropping back in front of the Coleman Medallist, he was as good as unstoppable.
Franklin got great support from Michael Osborne, who kicked four handy goals, while only inaccuracy stopped Jarryd Roughead matching the pair.
As it was he kicked three and lapped up the service of a hardworking and ball-winning midfield spearheaded by Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell. It was as complete a finals effort as you would want to see.
The game began in frenetic fashion as the crowd created a healthy finals atmosphere to which players from both sides responded.
After Roughead marked and goaled to open the scoring at the eight-minute mark, the Dogs steadied with goals to Brad Johnson and Daniel Giansiracusa to grab a narrow lead.
At that point it looked game on as the Doggies' Ryan Griffen, Lindsay Gilbee and Giansiracusa rose to the occasion and matched the opposition’s intensity.
But the Hawks had other ideas.
With Lewis, Mitchell and Sewell dominating the clearances, Luke Hodge doing likewise playing loose across half -back, and Franklin and Roughead wreaking havoc inside forward 50, the Hawks wrested control of the match.
By quarter time the 16-point margin flattered the Bulldogs, who were clinging to life.
Thirty minutes later that life was drained from the contest as the Hawks rammed home six goals to two to blow the margin out to 44 points at the half.
Franklin did the damage with three goals for the term; Osborne kicked two while Lewis, Mitchell, Hodge and Chance Bateman kept the pressure on out of the middle.
Momentarily the Dogs mounted a challenge when Jason Akermanis, who started the game opposed to Cyril Rioli across half back, went forward to open the scoring in the third term. When Josh Hill added another two minutes later, the margin had been reduced to 32 points.
It was as close as the Dogs would get.
Despite losing Trent Croad to injury – the full-back did not emerge from the rooms after half time – and Stephen Gilham, who was replaced by Cameron Stokes in the selected side, the Hawks show marched on.
Osborne kicked two in four minutes, Roughead finally found his range to add another and when Franklin drilled home his sixth at the 25-minute mark, the lead had reached 58 points.
With the result beyond doubt – and the Hawks down to one on the bench with Croad, Rick Ladson (shoulder) and Cameron Stokes (corked thigh) gone for the night – Hawthorn refused to take their foot off the writhing Bulldogs.
Franklin's seventh goal was one out of the box and put a halt to a mini Dogs run that netted three goals in the opening six minutes of the final term.
After wrestling Lake in a marking duel, Franklin pounced cat-like on a bouncing ball and from 50 metres, and off one step, drilled it through.
Three minutes later he took a towering contested mark, strolled into the open goal and torpedoed his eighth into the top deck of the Ponsford Stand. It was vintage Buddy.
With their tails up the Hawks can now enjoy a week off to rest sore bodies in preparation for the club’s first preliminary final since 2001.
For the Dogs, the challenge to respond next week is a huge one.
The challenge will be greatest for its experienced core in Brad Johnson, Robert Murphy, Jason Akermains, Ben Hudson, Scott Welsh and Nathan Eagleton who failed to impact the contest.
HAWTHORN 4.5 10.12 15.17 18.19 (127)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.1 4.4 7.7 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 8, Osborne 4, Roughead 3, Brown, Crawford, Lewis. Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 3, Giansiracusa 2, Cooney 2, Hill 2, Higgins, Johnson
BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Hodge, Mitchell, Osborne, Sewell, Lewis, Roughead.
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Cross, Akermanis, Boyd, Hill, Callan
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Croad (ankle), Birchall (corked thigh), Ladson (AC joint), Stokes (corked thigh), Gilham (virus) replaced in the selected side by Stokes
Western Bulldogs: Nil.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Rosebury, Ryan
Official crowd: 76,703 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
