The star forward dominated opponent Paddy Ryder to equal his previous personal best goal haul which he achieved against the Bombers in round six last year.
The Dons tested the Hawks in a hard-running first half and trailed by just seven points at the main break before wilting under the pressure exerted by Hawthorn in an impressive third quarter that set up the 19.16 (130) to 12.7 (79) win.
Luke Hodge made an outstanding comeback from a hamstring tear that sidelined him for a month with the vice-captain a key player contributing 22 possessions and three goals.
Jordan Lewis topped the list of possession winners with 28 with Chance Bateman’s run and carry in a 23-disposal performance also important.
Trent Croad matched up on Matthew Lloyd and he kept the Essendon skipper to two goals with both of those coming in the first quarter.
Nathan Lovett-Murray gathered 27 possessions for the Bombers with Brent Stanton (26) and Mark McVeigh (24) also prominent.
The Bombers were on fire early, but failed to make the most of the opportunities their fluid ball movement created up forward. Lloyd’s first gave his side a 12-point lead that very easily could have been double that with 15 minutes played, but the Hawks would soon make them pay for their wastefulness.
Tim Clarke’s goal with 17 minutes played was Hawthorn’s first and was followed quickly by majors to Hodge and Franklin who snapped brilliantly off his left foot on the run to open his account.
Buddy’s second from outside 50 sent the Hawks into the first break a goal in front and they continued their surge in the second term.
Hodge gave his hamstring a thorough workout when he marked at full stretch running flat out toward goal and when his second major was followed promptly by Franklin’s third the Hawks were up and about.
But the Dons showed their gutsy effort against Adelaide the week before was no fluke by marching right back into the contest. Scott Lucas got the better of Campbell Brown and banged through three goals for the quarter as the Hawthorn lead evaporated.
Hodge and Franklin kept the scoreboard ticking over, but when Adam McPhee goaled after the half-time siren, the Hawks led by just seven points.
Angus Monfries kicked the opening goal of the second half, but the Bombers’ run dried up and errors started to creep into their game as Hawthorn lifted its intensity.
Franklin and Jarryd Roughead each added two goals as the Hawks bounded away, but the highlight of the term was a brilliant goal to Michael Osborne who dribbled one through from the tightest of angles to have Hawks fans on their feet.
Entering the last quarter with a healthy 34-point lead, the Hawks were all but home and Franklin’s eighth inside two minutes made the four points a certainty.
The main point of interest for the rest of the match was whether Buddy could crack double figures and he edged one closer when he marked and converted in time on.
He appeared to take a mark in the dying minutes well within range, but was forced to play on and missed with the final siren greeted with an audible sigh of anguish from Hawthorn supporters.
Next week, the Hawks travel to AAMI stadium for a crucial Saturday night clash with top-four team the Adelaide Crows.
GOALS
Essendon: Lucas 4, Lloyd 2, Winderlich 2, McPhee, Monfries, Pears, Reimers
Hawthorn: Franklin 9, Hodge 3, Roughead 3, Clarke, Boyle, Osborne, Young
BEST
Essendon: Lovett-Murray, McVeigh, Fletcher, Houli, Welsh, Stanton, Winderlich
Hawthorn: Franklin, Hodge, Bateman, Osborne, Lewis, Campbell, Clarke
INJURIES
Essendon: Laycock (ankle) replaced in selected side by Bellchambers, Nash (concussion)
Hawthorn: Bateman (corked thigh), Taylor (gashed knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Avon, Mollison
Official crowd: 46,377 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the AFL or the clubs
