WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.2    5.4     5.5         6.8     (44)
HAWTHORN                         4.3    8.5    14.10    17.14  (116)

Hawthorn have leapt into the top four after beating the Western Bulldogs by a massive 72 points at Etihad Stadium.

The Hawks may have been missing two-time Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin but it only served to further enforce the goal kicking options Hawthorn possess, with six players still managing to kick multiple goals.

It also sets up what will possibly be the match of the round next week as the Hawks look to continue their strong form against the Magpies.

It wasn’t all easy going for the Hawks however, with the Doggies only trailing by 19 points at the major break. The Hawks had kicked away, but the Bulldogs managed to kick some vital goals which kept them in touch.

The Hawks exploded in the third term, restricting the Bulldogs to a solitary behind whilst kicking six goals five and effectively finishing the contest. The last quarter didn’t allow any respite for the Dogs, who only managed one goal, whilst the Hawks added another three.

Sam Mitchell continued his excellent season to be the standout with 34 disposals, including 13 contested, six clearances and a goal.

Jack Gunston was clearly the most impressive on the day, with 13 touches and four goals to be the leading goal kicker.

The restructured forward line still had no problems outperforming the attacking system the Dogs provided, who, not for the first time this season, severely lacked options up front.

They do have a few young developing options in front of goal but they still have plenty of growing to do. This means that ugly results like this contest are going to become a regular reality for the Bulldogs game for the time being.

Votes

3)  – Sam Mitchell (Hawks)

2) – Grant Birchall (Hawks)

1) – Jack Gunston (Hawks)

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