SAM MITCHELL has celebrated his 300th AFL game with 38 possessions to lead Hawthorn to a 70-point win over Richmond on a cold and chilly afternoon at the MCG. 

Although the Hawks had the better of general play for most of Sunday's game, it was not until Jack Gunston and Cyril Rioli kicked consecutive goals in a tick over a minute late in the third term that they got some genuine breathing distance over the Tigers.

Those two goals helped the Hawks take a 29-point lead into the final break and opened the floodgates for a nine-goal-to-two final quarter that carried them to a 16.18 (114) to 5.14 (44) victory and put them two games clear on top on the ladder.

Five talking points: Hawthorn v Richmond

After the teams went into quarter-time level, the Hawks led for all bar the opening two minutes of the second term, but their inaccuracy in front of goal prevented them from stretching their lead beyond 17 points until the back-to-back Gunston and Rioli goals.

In fairness to Alastair Clarkson's men, the bitter conditions made goalkicking tough and the Tigers also struggled to convert in front of the big sticks.

Mitchell became the seventh Hawk to play 300 games on Sunday and the 33-year-old is aging more gracefully than a bottle of Grange Hermitage.

Having already committed to playing on in 2017, Mitchell again vindicated that decision with a masterful midfield performance, winning a team-high nine clearances and controlling the tempo of play with his precision passing.

SHOWREEL: 300-gamer delivers vintage performance

Bradley Hill (31 possessions) seemed unaffected by the news on Saturday that he had spoken with Fremantle about a possible move back home, the wingman providing the Hawks with plenty of run that complemented the hard-nosed work of Jordan Lewis (33).

Grant Birchall and JoshGibson were creative across half-back, while Ben Stratton made life tough for a Richmond forward line missing injured star Brett Deledio.

Jack Gunston (3.3) worked tirelessly all game, even if his usually deadeye boot betrayed him at times, while Rioli chimed in with three late goals.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was pleased with the win and acknowledged the conditions had made life tough for both teams.

"They've been a dangerous opponent for us in recent years, and we're pleased we were able to have a convincing victory in the end," Clarkson said in his post-match press conference.

"Both sides had some significant open opportunities in the end that they didn't take.

"In normal circumstances, the turnovers that both teams produced today would be really hurt on the scoreboard.

"But that was probably a little bit a reflection of the conditions today. The ground was quite heavy, probably because of the game that was played here last night, and the conditions were really swirly and difficult."

Richmond had won three of the teams' previous five clashes heading into Sunday's game and battled hard until the Hawks' class eventually proved too much.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said Hawthorn's class ultimately proved too much for his team. 

"I thought they probably dominated the second quarter as well (as the last), but just couldn't capitalise. We probably had a brief period during the third where we were a little bit the same, but the class just stood out at the end," Hardwick said.

"The last six or seven minutes was disappointing, probably the same happened the last time we played where they kicked away late.

"But they probably always had us at arm's length after half-time. Just when we ventured inside 50 we weren't good enough at getting a clean shot at goal."

Alex Rance stood up manfully amid a barrage of inside 50 entries from the Hawks – they won the count 56-37 – while Dustin Martin (a game-high 39 possessions) continued his recent prolific ball-winning, albeit without his usual influence.

Anthony Miles (26 possessions) provided handy support to Martin through the midfield, and Nick Vlastuin was solid in the Tigers' defensive 50.

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The Hawks dominated the opening minutes of the game, denying the Tigers an inside 50 until nearly nine minutes had elapsed.

Hawthorn failed to take full advantage of that dominance, kicking 1.3 with their opening major coming from Brendan Whitecross.

By the time Richmond kicked its first goal at the 19-minute mark – via Nathan Drummond in his first senior game back from knee reconstruction – the scores were level.

Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin then goaled, but this was soon answered by a Luke Breust major after the Hawk forward brilliantly smothered Richmond defender David Astbury at the top of the goalsquare, and the teams went into quarter-time tied on 2.5 (17).

Alastair Clarkson's men had the first five scores of the second term, but only the last was a goal, James Sicily's clinical set shot from 30m putting the Hawks up by 10 points at the 12-minute mark.

A Daniel Rioli goal cut Hawthorn's lead to four points five minutes later, but soon after Gunston capitalised when Ben Griffiths slipped in the Hawks' goalsquare, sharking the Tiger's errant handball and finishing truly.

The Hawks dominated the inside 50 count 29-17 in the first half, but their 4.11 return meant they led by only 10 points at the major break.

MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: The Hawks emerged with a clean bill of health.

Richmond: Dylan Grimes went off in the third quarter and did not play any further part in the game. Coach Damien Hardwick said after the game Grimes had experienced some hamstring tightness, but was not sure whether it was back related. "If it was anyone else we would have sent them back on to play but obviously with Dylan's history we take a conservative approach. We think he'll be OK but scans will confirm that later in the week."

NEXT UP
The Hawks have a six-day break ahead of their clash against Carlton at Aurora Stadium next Saturday. Hawthorn has won its past 18 games in Launceston and its past 13 games against Carlton. The Tigers also have a six-day break before they take on Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval next Saturday. Richmond has never played at the Canberra venue before, but has won all five of its games against the Giants.

HAWTHORN         2.5   4.11   7.15   16.18 (114)
RICHMOND          2.5   3.7      3.11    5.14 (44)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Rioli 3, Gunston 3, Sicily 3, Breust 2, Puopolo, O'Rourke, Whitecross, Gibson, McEvoy
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Rioli, Drummond, Cotchin 

BEST 
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Hill, Birchall, Gunston, Lewis, Stratton
Richmond: Martin, Rance, Grigg, Miles  

INJURIES
Hawthorn: TBC 
Richmond: Grimes (hamstring) 

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Brown, Schmitt, Kamolins

Official crowd: 51,892 at the MCG