HAWTHORN has enhanced its claims as a premiership contender by cruising to a 29-point win over a disappointing Western Bulldogs in front of 30,747 fans at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Hawks' 13.13 (91) to 9.8 (62) win was their fourth in a row and seventh of the season, moving them to third on the AFL ladder, six points clear in the top four.

Alastair Clarkson's in-form team steadily built a comfortable lead during the opening two-and-a-half quarters by using short, precise kicking to control possession as they eased to a 46-point lead at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.

Hawthorn's huge wins in uncontested marks (166-51) and uncontested possession (305-175) illustrated the manner in which it attacked from defensive 50, chipping the ball around patiently and then pouncing once an opening presented further afield.

The Bulldogs showed some fight in kicking four consecutive goals from midway through the third quarter to early in the final term to bring the margin within four straight kicks, but Hawthorn steadied to claim a comfortable victory.

The only negative for the Hawks was the loss of Chance Bateman to an ankle injury suffered during the first quarter.

Clarkson said post-match it is unlikely that the hard-running midfielder will be fit to face Fremantle next week.

Influential players
Midfield generals Luke Hodge (33 disposals, three clearances, two goals) and Sam Mitchell (24 disposals, six clearances, two goals) were the best of a host of dominant onballers for the Hawks, who had 16 players gather 18 or more possessions compared to the Bulldogs' four.

Star forward Lance Franklin booted 3.5 to take his season tally to 35 and move him within one goal of Richmond's Jack Riewoldt at the top of the Coleman Medal leaderboard.

Josh Gibson held Bulldogs full-forward Barry Hall goalless before the spearhead was subbed from the ground to Bronx cheers during the third quarter, with fellow defenders Brent Guerra (35 disposals, two goals) and Grant Birchall (28 disposals) providing rebounding run.

What weakness
When Hawthorn lost key defender Stephen Gilham from its already undersized defence and David Hale from its oft-criticised ruck division during the round-eight win over St Kilda, the two sections of the Hawks' line-up already seen as their weaknesses came under even more pressure.

But far from capitulating, Clarkson's defence has now conceded less than 70 points in three consecutive matches.

Josh Gibson continued his fine season with a complete demolition of Hall, and Ryan Schoenmakers and Tom Murphy have slotted comfortably into the gaps left by Gilham and fellow knee victim Ben Stratton.

In the ruck, Hale's loss has been Max Bailey's gain.

The 24-year-old made it safely through his second senior game back from his third knee reconstruction, and some of his tap work showed why the Hawks have been so patient.

Hawthorn won the hit-outs 42-29, with Bailey getting assistance from an unlikely source in the 186cm Jordan Lewis, who was effectively deployed as a third man up at many ball-ups and finished with 11 hitouts.

What it means
With a game-and-a-half buffer to fifth-placed Essendon, Hawthorn is beginning to put a handy gap between itself and the chasing pack in the lower half of the top eight.

What the coach said
Alastair Clarkson (Hawthorn)
"They're a side that if you give them possession of the footy they can cut you to pieces with their feet and we were very mindful that we wanted to control the ball where we could. We were probably a little bit too slow on occasions. It's not a great game of free-flowing footy when you're having so many uncontested marks...but we were really pleased to get the victory in a game that we thought was going to be a really torrid affair."

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Hawthorn: Guerra ($305,200) reeled off an astonishing 180 points in the Hawks' stats-fest, with 11 other players scoring 98 or more. Hodge ($350,100) was second best with 154 in his best game of the season so far.

Next four
Hawthorn: The Hawks will start heavy favourites against an injury-ravaged Fremantle at the MCG on Sunday, then follows a rematch with fierce rival Geelong (MCG), and clashes with Gold Coast (AU) and Essendon (MCG).

Quarter by quarter summary

First quarter
Bulldogs fans came to Etihad Stadium hoping for signs their team would be 'on' after their 123-point belting at the hands of West Coast last week. And there were some initial good signs, with a couple of early clearances and the first goal of the game to Ryan Griffen. But then the Hawks kicked into gear and for 10 minutes from the five-minute mark, the ball was almost exclusively in Hawthorn's half of the ground. The Hawks booted three goals in that time, through Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Lance Franklin, the last of which came after Brian Lake attempted to swat the ball through for a behind, only with not enough 'oomph' and just enough space for Franklin to soccer the ball through. Cyril Rioli kicked his first goal and Franklin his second, with a snap from Daniel Giansiracusa, playing his 200th game, keeping the home team in touch. The Hawks led by 18 points at the first change and with a big advantage in all the key stats, held a clear ascendancy. The only sour note for the Hawks was an ankle injury to Chance Bateman, which saw him subbed from the ground. Luke Bruest was his replacement.

Second quarter
Hawthorn strengthened its grip on the match with three goals to one in the second term to take a 32-point lead into the half-time break. The Hawks extended their lead almost immediately after Rioli grabbed the ball, sold the dummy and speared the lace-out pass to Hodge who duly marked and kicked a goal. Tom Williams snapped a nice reply for the Bulldogs after five minutes, but the Hawks had control of the stoppages throughout and further goals to Franklin and Mitchell gave the side a comfortable buffer. The Bulldogs did enjoy a consolation win at one stoppage, where Lake locked horns with old adversary Franklin and won a free kick for holding the ball. Lake spent the entire match in the backline, primarily matched up on Jarryd Roughead.

Third quarter
The Bulldogs claimed a small victory in the third term, forcing the Hawks into a spell of tempo footy after three consecutive goals by the home team bridged the gap from 47 points to 29. A blow-out looked likely after goals to Roughead and Brent Guerra, but another snap to Williams, followed by a fine set shot from Shaun Higgins and then a goal on the run from Giansiracusa, brought the game back to life. It should be noted the Western Bulldogs got themselves back in the game after spearhead Barry Hall was subbed from the game after a lacklustre display. The Hawks controlled the last 10 minutes, not adding any goals but playing the game on their terms once again, and looked a safe bet with a 29-point lead at the final change.

Fourth quarter
Thirty minutes of junk-time is the best description of the final quarter. It started brightly with a fine overhead mark to Giansiracusa, who got the sit 40m out and duly converted. That made it four straight to the Bulldogs and the margin was back to 23 points. But a long goal from Guerra, his second of the match, took the margin back to five goals and it was goal for goal from there. Griffen, who was the best for the Bulldogs, left the ground with a corked thigh, but soon returned. Osborne and Roughead added further goals for the Hawks, thanks to some magic first from Rioli and then Franklin, and it was hard to escape the sneaking feeling that the Hawks didn't get out of second gear for most of the second half.

Western Bulldogs       2.3    3.5    6.6      9.8     (62)
Hawthorn                    5.3    8.7   10.11  13.13  (91)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Williams 2, Higgins, Griffen, Sherman, Boyd
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Mitchell 2, Hodge 2, Guerra 2, Roughead 2, Rioli, Osborne

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Murphy, Giansiracusa, Williams, Boyd, Morris
Hawthorn: Hodge, Gibson, Guerra, Mitchell, Birchall, Roughead, Puopolo, Franklin

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Easton Wood (nose), Sam Reid (hamstring), Ryan Hargrave (foot soreness) replaced in selected side by Brian Lake, Brodie Moles (illness) replaced in selected side by Lindsay Gilbee.
Hawthorn: Chance Bateman (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Barry Hall replaced by Josh Hill in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Chance Bateman (ankle) replaced by Luke Bruest in the first quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ritchie, Stevic, Stewart

Official crowd: 30,747 at Etihad Stadium

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