HAWTHORN staked its claim for a  top-two spot and made a statement to one of their chief finals rivals after overrunning West Coast by 14 points at a wet and wild Domain Stadium on Saturday night.

The rain fell sideways at times during the ferocious contest but the Hawks held sway to claim a 13.10 (88) to 11.8 (74) victory. 

A strong breeze blowing towards the city end of the ground left its mark on the match, and it was the Hawks who used it best. 

The news got worse for West Coast with Mark LeCras reported for an untidy second-quarter hit on James Frawley.

Five talking points: West Coast v Hawthorn

Frawley was substituted under the concussion rule, but returned to the field after half-time.  

Eagles utility player Jeremy McGovern left the field in the last quarter with a hamstring injury in a further blow to the clubs already depleted key-position stocks. 

Trailing by four points at three-quarter time, Liam Shiels put Hawthorn in front for the first time when he snapped truly five minutes into the final term, but it came under controversial circumstances. 

Hawk Jarryd Roughead appeared to take the ball over the boundary line in the forward pocket, before handballing to Shiels who finished the play.

In the frenetic final term, successful snaps to Eagles duo Matt Rosa and Josh Kennedy gave the Eagles the lead, but Hawthorn hit back. 
And after a quiet night, Roughead bobbed up with a classy snap across his body to seal the titanic struggle in red time. 

Despite the victory Hawthorn remains third, two points behind the second-placed Eagles, but have a favourable run home with games against Geelong, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Carlton before the finals. 

Coach Alastair Clarkson was pleased with his side’s response after the Hawks trailed by 18 points at quarter-time, and by the same margin midway through the third term. 

"They’re special wins when you win interstate and we showed a lot of spirit to come from behind at three-quarter time," he said. 

"They got away to a little bit of a flier and had a three goal margin on us at quarter-time. 

"We thought we were playing OK but made some horrible errors with the ball and gave them two or three goals on a platter, and really had to work hard from that point in time."
 
Andrew Gaff was outstanding for West Coast in the midfield with 35 disposals, including 11 contested possessions. Kennedy finished with four goals.

Hawks midfielder Sam Mitchell had 36 disposals while Jordan Lewis (30 possessions) was also prominent. 

GAMEBREAKER: Mitchell's class prevails against Eagles

Luke Breust kicked three majors to go with his 22 touches while Shiels had laid an incredible 17 tackles in the Hawks tally of 101 for the match. 

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said his side would go into next weekend’s western derby against first-placed Fremantle full of confidence and was quick to put the loss in perspective. 
"We lost a game against the premiers. I think they had 18 premiership players from last year playing tonight," Simpson said. 

"To be right up there until halfway through the last - I think we hit the front with 10 minutes to go. But we weren't good enough. And next week is going to be just as tough." 

WEST COAST         5.3   6.5    9.6   11.8     (74)

HAWTHORN            2.3   5.5    8.8   13.10   (88)          

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 4, Darling 2, Cripps 2, Shuey, Hutchings, Rosa
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Hartung 2, Burgoyne 2, Birchall, Puopolo, Cegler, Rioli, Shiels, Roughead

BEST 
West Coast: Gaff, Priddis, Shuey, Kennedy, Schofield
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Birchall, Hartung, Shiels, Burgoyne 

INJURIES 
West Coast: Sinclair (knee) replaced in selected side by Hutchings, McGovern (hamstring)
Hawthorn: Lake (general soreness) replaced in selection side by Suckling

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Matt Rosa replaced Dom Sheed at three-quarter time
Hawthorn: Taylor Duryea replaced Jonathon Cegler three-quarter time 

Reports: Mark LeCras for rough conduct on James Frawley in the second quarter

Umpires: Margetts, Hocking, Meredith

Official crowd: 34,843 at Domain Stadium