WEST Coast has shaken up the race for the top four with a very impressive 25-point win over a vulnerable Hawthorn at Domain Stadium. 

But both sides face a significant cost from the match with ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Jonathon Ceglar going down with apparently serious knee injuries in the third term.

Ceglar twisted his right knee after landing awkwardly in a marking contest and was helped from the ground by trainers.

Naitanui injured his left knee in almost identical fashion minutes later and was also helped from the ground.

Five talking points: West Coast v Hawthorn

It soured the Eagles' finest performance of the season, as they clubbed the Hawks in all facets to win 13.14 (92) to 10.7 (67).

The win keeps West Coast's top-four hopes alive while Hawthorn has been brought back to the chasing pack. The three-time reigning premier could find itself as low as fourth at the end of the round if the Sydney Swans, Adelaide and Geelong all win.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said the win was overshadowed by the concern for Naitanui, but he was very satisfied with his team's performance.

"We were pleased with the four quarters," Simpson said.

"We knew Hawthorn was going to come. The contested ball for us, and I know sometimes it isn't a massive indicator, but we got beat up the last two times we played Hawthorn, in the contest. So, despite where it was or how it was done, it was a pretty big focus of ours to get that competitive." 

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said the Hawks were thoroughly outplayed.

"When you come to this oval you need to play some of your best footy, and we didn't," Clarkson said.

"We had plenty of opportunities and we just missed handballs and kicks that we don't normally do. They were just so much cleaner and better with the ball.

"They play at this ground a lot, they play in these conditions a lot. You've just got to be a little bit off in terms of your own ball use. We had ample opportunities, particularly early in the game, to really cut through the West Coast defence and we just slaughtered the ball."

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Josh Kennedy kicked five goals, including three in a dominant opening term. Matt Priddis' strength around the ball and his distribution by hand was phenomenal, and Andrew Gaff worked tirelessly all night collecting 38 disposals.

Lewis Jetta played an influential game, especially in the opening half, as he staked a claim to keep his place in the senior side after an inconsistent first season at the Eagles.

Jack Darling and Mark LeCras kicked five goals between them.

The Hawks had few winners. Luke Hodge was outstanding off half-back and his interceptions and distribution ensured the Hawks stayed in the game. Shaun Burgoyne collected 25 disposals and kicked two goals, while Jack Gunston and James Sicily, who was a late inclusion, also kicked two goals apiece.

Mark Hutchings held Sam Mitchell to just 22 touches, his equal second lowest disposal total of the year. The Hawk veteran had 37 back in round two.

"It worked for us tonight," Simpson said.

"That's not to say we'll do it every week or every time we play Hawthorn.

"I thought (Hutchings) was fantastic tonight and the help he got around the ball played an important part."

The Eagles were smashed in contested possession in their loss to the Hawks in round two, but they turned the tables on Friday night.

WC v Haw: Full match details and stats

They set the tone in the opening term, leading the contested possession count by 22 at quarter-time, the clearances by nine and the centre clearances by five to set up a 20-point lead at the first break.

Priddis led the domination in close but the Eagles' aerial work exposed the Hawks badly. They took 18 contested marks to two across the course of the night with Kennedy and Darling unstoppable inside 50, taking eight marks inside the arc between them.

"That's a real strength of the West Coast side and we weren't able to curtail that part of their game tonight," Clarkson said.

"You haven't got the width on this oval to run and use the ball as much as you can at other ovals, particularly at the MCG. So a key strategy for them is to actually utilise their tall timber."

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The Eagles' pressure was also outstanding. The recalled Jetta epitomised their desperation, winning a holding the ball decision that led to his first goal since round seven and a brilliant spoil deep in defence that prevented a score.

The Eagles led by 32 points at half-time and 41 at three-quarter time, but their inaccuracy kept the Hawks in the game.

Hawthorn never gave up hope, kicking three goals to one in the last quarter, but missed a couple of chances that could have really scared the home side.

The Eagles suffered another fright late when Scott Lycett limped off following a knee knock, but he came back on after being assessed.  

How the fans saw it: West Coast v Hawthorn

MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Naitanui could not put any weight through his left leg and had to be carried from the ground. The physios did a stability test on it at three-quarter time. He sat the entire last quarter on the bench with ice on his left knee. Simpson feared the worst post-match but they will wait on the scans. 

Hawthorn: Ceglar's right knee injury looked serious, but he was able to walk unassisted to the rooms after being helped off the ground. He did not reappear and the Hawks covered the TV cameras in the rooms as he underwent further tests. Clarkson said it had all the hallmarks of an ACL injury but they would need the scans to confirm.  

NEXT UP
The Eagles travel to Adelaide Oval to face the Crows in a Friday night meeting with significant ramifications. The Hawks face Collingwood at the MCG next Sunday.

WEST COAST              5.3       9.4       12.13   13.14 (92)
HAWTHORN               2.1       4.2       7.2       10.7 (67) 

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 5, Darling 3, LeCras 2, Jetta, Yeo, Shuey
Hawthorn: Gunston 2, Sicily 2, Burgoyne 2, Breust, Puopolo, Lewis, Whitecross 

BEST 
West Coast: Gaff, Priddis, Kennedy, Masten, McGovern, LeCras
Hawthorn: Hodge, Birchall, Lewis, Burgoyne, Sicily 

INJURIES 
West Coast: Naitanui (left knee), Lycett (leg)
Hawthorn: Ceglar (right knee), Langford (illness) replaced in selected side by Sicily 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Nicholls, McInerney

Official crowd: 38,581 at Domain Stadium