AFTER a week of soul-searching, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has declared the massive win over North Melbourne a team effort, rather than singling out 13-goal hero Lance Franklin.

It came despite opposite number Brad Scott saying it was one of the best games he has seen by an individual.

Franklin's goal tally was a career-best and the best return since Eagle Scott Cummings (14 goals) in 2000.

"Bud got on the end of the ball today which was terrific … [but] it's not about Lance, it's about our team," Clarkson said after the match.

"We were able to break the Kangaroos open because we had work-rate right across the ground … we were able to beat them in every quarter and we kept the pressure on them all day."

Clearly keen to atone for a surprise loss to Richmond last week, the Hawks buried the Kangaroos with a 15-goal second half in the 115-point thrashing.

"We thought it was going to be an arm wrestle, particularly when the drizzle came down earlier today," Clarkson said. "We thought it would be 10 goals each or along those lines. You just don't predict those results."

The win moves Hawthorn to 6-4 for the season and in the bottom half of the eight, but Clarkson has no doubts the club is still a premiership contender.

"We believe we're a serious challenger if we can bring that sort of concerted effort, but we're just a mediocre side if we bring the effort we did against Richmond," Clarkson said.

"It's a very, very even season and teams are going to have their peaks and troughs, but we think we're experienced enough now to withstand those sort of troughs we had last week and that's our greatest challenge as a footy club to make sure they're few and far between.

 "The ones that can [withstand those troughs] week-to-week are the ones sitting in the top three or four positions on the ladder."