HAWTHORN has seen off a late challenge by Richmond to keep its faint finals hopes alive with a 42-point win at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Tigers drew to within 19 points with a three-goal burst early in the final term, but the Hawks steadied then accelerated away to the 20.15 (135) to 14.9 (93) win.

Lance Franklin threw his considerable bulk around with great effect on the night and was a key factor in the win. The only flaw in his 21-possession, five-tackle game was his goalkicking, with a wasteful 5.6 an unfitting reward for his hard work.

Luke Hodge played one of the better games of his injury-interrupted season with 30 disposals, while Sam Mitchell (35 touches) was outstanding and Brad Sewell influential with 25 touches and 12 tackles.

Brett Deledio was outstanding for Richmond with 36 possessions and two goals and he received good support from Nathan Brown (25 disposals) and Daniel Jackson (24).

Graham Polak started up forward in his first game since the horrific collision with a tram last year that threatened his career. He was thrown down back after the first break, but struggled to have an influence, finishing with six possessions.

Max Bailey put successive knee reconstructions behind him to play his first game since round 22 of 2006 and did well around the stoppages with 23 hit-outs.

Richmond defender Will Thursfield was knocked out of the match with a shoulder injury after a heavy collision with Liam Shiels in the first quarter.

The Tigers started brightly, with Jack Riewoldt pouncing on a loose ball to slot his side's first, but Beau Dowler's strong mark and goal soon cancelled that out. Jackson converted a set shot as Richmond continued to push, but the Hawks worked themselves into the game as the term progressed.

Franklin was imposing himself on the contest at will, but his own and his team's inaccuracy in front of goal ruined their hard work further up the ground.

Buddy kicked three of Hawthorn's six behinds in the opening stanza, but when Jordan Lewis shrugged off a heavy bump from Polak to mark and goal from close range the Hawks hit the front and took a four-point lead into the first break.

Mitch Morton, who finished with three goals, put through a trademark snap early in the second term, but Hodge and Sewell sparked a Hawthorn surge.

Franklin finally found the middle and then handed one off to Josh Kennedy after a horrible Luke McGuane turnover. Morton managed one against the run of play, but Franklin bested McGuane twice more and Cyril Rioli produced a piece of individual brilliance for his first goal as the Hawks skipped out to a 27-point lead.

The beleaguered Tigers needed a spark of their own and Nathan Brown supplied it when he expertly roved a pack and snapped truly. Richard Tambling converted the simplest of chances after Rioli gave away a 50m penalty and suddenly Richmond was right back amongst it, just 14 points down at half time.

Riewoldt narrowed the gap further three minutes after the restart, but his two goals were the Tigers' only majors of the third quarter. Franklin continued to frustrate in front of goals, but Dowler added his second as the Hawks edged away once more.

Hodge continued to rack up the possessions and deceived Adam Thomson, playing his first game for Richmond, to slot a superb long-range goal midway through the term.

Franklin laid out Ben Cousins with a hip and shoulder that saw the Brownlow Medallist leave the field dazed and confused, and that was followed by three majors in succession; Dowler, Michael Osborne and Rioli doing the honours, as Hawthorn went into the last change comfortable 26-point leaders.

Shane Tuck gave Tigers fans hope with two goals in two minutes after Osborne's opener, but that was the last gasp as Buddy added two more to his own tally to see the Hawks home.

Richmond    2.2   7.3       9.6        14.9 (93)
Hawthorn    2.6    8.11     13.14    20.15 (135)

GOALS
Richmond: Morton 3, Riewoldt 3, Deledio 2, Tuck 2, Brown, Cousins, Jackson, Tambling
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Dowler 4, Osborne 3, Kennedy 2, McGlynn 2, Rioli 2, Hodge, Lewis

BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Brown, Simmonds, Jackson, White, Cousins
Hawthorn: Franklin, Hodge, Sewell, Dowler, Bateman, Mitchell

INJURIES
Richmond: Thursfield (shoulder), Cousins (concussion), Newman (knee), Jackson (ankle), Edwards (eye)
Hawthorn: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kennedy, Nicholls, Hendrie

Official crowd: 34,779 at the MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.