IT'S TIME to stop debating whether West Coast is a reliable proposition in Melbourne. 

On Sunday afternoon, the Eagles' train continued to thunder towards September as they tightened their grip on top spot by beating Hawthorn by 15 points at Etihad Stadium.

The 11.9 (75) to 9.6 (60) win was the first time they've beaten the Hawks in Melbourne since round 14, 2006, back when they were coached by John Worsfold and led by Chris Judd.

And if we're talking omens, that was also the season in which the Eagles won their third premiership.

TALKING POINTS: Players and umps get touchy feely again

"It was a really good win, it was really hard fought. I'm not surprised with what Hawthorn brought," West Coast coach Adam Simpson said after the Eagles' ninth-straight triumph. 

"It was a difficult, scrappy game at times, but to win in that manner and stand up when it counted, I'm really proud of our players."

Led by midfielder Andrew Gaff (35 disposals) in a brilliant display and Elliot Yeo, who had 28 touches despite playing with the knee he hurt a week ago heavily strapped, the Eagles held off the Hawks, who just kept having a go.

The only low point for the Eagles was a seemingly innocuous interaction in which Willie Rioli patted the hip of umpire Ray Chamberlain in an incident that will have to be reviewed by the match review officer after the four umpire contact issues that have preceded it this season.

After losing their way last week against Brisbane, the Hawks were much better – despite being plagued by second-half turnovers – and didn't let the ladder-leaders out of their sight until the last quarter.

A third goal to Jaeger O'Meara at the 20-minute mark of the term even gave them a sniff after a Josh Kennedy major that came courtesy of a contentious free kick blew out the margin to a game-high 19 points.

However, it wasn't meant to be with the Hawks failing to score after that. 

SHOWREEL Rioli lights up the first half

It was a thoroughly absorbing contest, set up by a closely-fought first half in which the biggest difference was 12 points.

The Eagles had a slight edge in the third quarter, with turnovers killing the Hawks despite them taking the ball inside 50 three more times, with Chris Masten lighting up the stadium with a remarkable goal from the boundary at the 17-minute mark.

However, a silky major to Isaac Smith shortly before the siren snuffed out the chance of an Eagles' breakaway before three-quarter time, and the difference at the final change was just six points.

As enthralling as the contest had been, it still needed an individual to make a stand as the teams lined up for the restart.

After the Eagles won the first centre clearance of the quarter and Nic Naitanui goaled after pulling down a typically impressive contested mark, it looked like there was a contender.

Naitanui was the most prolific ruckman on the field, with his goal capping off an impressive performance against Ben McEvoy and feel-good story Jonathon Ceglar, who didn't make a huge impact in his first AFL game in nearly two years.


But Ceglar, on return from a knee reconstruction, provided one of the highlights of the afternoon when he celebrated a first-quarter goal with every one of his teammates. 

It's the first time since the start of last season the Hawks have lost three games in a row, which has left them marooned outside of the eight and with the questions about their finals credentials getting louder.

Still, coach Alastair Clarkson said there was "a lot to like" about the performance, especially the fact they kept the high-scoring Eagles to just 11 goals, but he bemoaned their disposal at important times. 

"Unfortunately, we didn't have the polish with our own ball use to be able to kick more than nine [goals] ourselves, and that was evident right throughout the course of the day," Clarkson said. 

"At crucial moments, the Eagles took their chances a bit better than what we did, and when it's a game that low scoring, that can be the difference in the end." 

MEDICAL ROOM

Hawthorn: The Hawks reported no fresh injuries. They decided on Friday that youngster James Cousins would miss after struggling earlier in the week with the concussion he sustained last week against the Lions, which is how Jon Ceglar found his way into the team. They expect to have Cousins available next week. 

West Coast: No serious injuries here either. There were some superficial wounds – Dom Sheed split his head open and Brad Sheppard cut his thumb, but both finished the game without concern. There were some sore Eagles afterwards though. Nic Naitanui (back) and Chris Masten (right hamstring) had treatment during the game but managed to run it out, while Elliott Yeo played with his right knee heavily strapped after hurting it last week.

 
NEXT UP

The Hawks play Port Adelaide, fresh from a post-Shanghai bye, in Tasmania on Saturday afternoon, while the Eagles host St Kilda later that night.

HAWTHORN   3.1   6.3   8.6  9.6 (60)
WEST COAST  3.2   6.3   9.6  11.9 (75)

GOALS

Hawthorn: O'Meara 3, Impey 2, Hardwick, Smith, Ceglar, Puopolo
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Rioli 2, LeCras, Gaff, Masten, Cripps, Waterman, Naitanui

BEST

Hawthorn: Smith, Frawley, Stratton, Hardwick, Roughead, O'Meara
West Coast: Gaff, Sheppard, Redden, Yeo, Hurn, Rioli, Naitanui

INJURIES

Hawthorn: Ceglar replaced Cousins (concussion) in selected team 
West Coast: Sheed (cut head), Sheppard (thumb,

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Nicholls, Chamberlain, Wallace

Official crowd: 28,077 at Etihad Stadium