WEST Coast has prevailed against Hawthorn in a thrilling heavyweight slog at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night, withstanding a late Hawk surge to win by five points.  

In a defensive struggle between two of this year's premiership contenders, it was West Coast that landed the first blow ahead of a potential September match-up, winning a low-scoring but enthralling clash: 5.21 (51) to 5.16 (46).   

With a combined five goals kicked in the first three quarters, young West Coast forward Jack Darling stood up in the last term to kick two long-range goals.

Midfielder Daniel Kerr also kicked a crucial goal out of a stoppage to put his team 18 points up in the run home, before Hawthorn genius Cyril Riolin threatened to steal the match single-handedly with two goals in five minutes.

The Eagles held on, however, to continue their undefeated start to the season, going 4-0 for the first since 2007 when they were last a premiership contender.

It was the first true test of the season for John Worsfold's men and the Hawks were unrelenting, holding West Coast goalless in the first half and conceding just two goals in the third quarter to take a three-point lead into the final term. 

Indeed, it was an incredibly defensive match that saw Hawthorn kick the only two goals of the first half, with the Eagles held goalless in the first two quarters for the first time since round four, 2004, against Carlton at Optus Oval.  

Hawthorn's undersized backline was seen as a glaring weakness against the Eagles' 'land of the giants' forward line, but Josh Kennedy, Quinten Lynch and Darling were starved of opportunities.

Having averaged 66 inside 50s a game so far this season, the Eagles were held to just 45 against the Hawks and were often forced to kick long to their forwards.

When both teams went into attack they countered a loose man, with defenders Beau Waters (26 disposals), Darren Glass and Eric Mackenzie, who held Lance Franklin to one goal, all influential.

Franklin kicked 1.6 and gave away seven free kicks in a frustrating display against Mackenzie, who continues to grow in stature.

In the midfield, Kerr (33 disposals and nine clearances) was brilliant for the Eagles, while Sam Mitchell (29 and six) did the bulk of the grunt work for Hawthorn.

WEST COAST 0.8   0.12  2.16   5.21 (51)
HAWTHORN   0.4   2.7    3.13   5.16 (46)

GOALS
West Coast: Darling 2, Kerr, Hill, Kennedy
Hawthorn: Rioli 2, Franklin, Osborne, Lewis

BEST
West Coast: Kerr, Darling, Mackenzie, Waters, Rosa, Glass
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Lewis, Gibson, Suckling, Schoenmakers, Bruce

INJURIES
West Coast: TBC
Hawthorn: Birchall (knee) replaced in selected side by Bruce

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Patrick McGinnity replaced Quinten Lynch in the final quarter
Hawthorn: Bradley Hill replaced David Hale in the final quarter

Reports: TBC

Umpires: Dalgleish, Meredith, Findlay

Official crowd: 40,080 at Patersons Stadium

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