The Hawks kicked 18.13 (121) to Collingwood's 11.10 (76).
Hawthorn booted 7.3 in the third term, its highest scoring quarter for the year, while the Magpies could only manage two behinds.
Collingwood was the stronger team in the first half but the Hawks came out of the blocks in the second half with seven goals. The most galvanising was Luke Hodge’s mistimed torpedo from the centre square that bounced through for a goal.
The Hawks booted another six goals in the final term overall to secure the victory. The Magpies rallied with a few of their own but the game was already well and truly over.
The contrast of Hawthorn from last year to this year was evident in the positioning in the first quarter. Hodge started in the middle, Sam Mitchell playing off half-back and Lance Franklin pushing up on to the wing.
But while the positions might have been different, the intensity and precise disposal were reminiscent of 2008.
Mitchell returned to playing on the ball, finishing up forward and Franklin eventually moved back to the goal square. Hodge starred in the engine room, finishing with 34 touches and three goals.
Mitchell finished the evening on the bench with ice strapped to his troublesome shoulder but his wide grin seemed to suggest there was nothing serious in it.
Franklin pushed up the ground as a way of moving away from the clutches of Simon Prestigiacomo but he more than held his own when he entered the forward 50. Franklin is traditionally a good performer against the Magpies and did not disappoint, finishing with five goals.
The big forward carried over his form from last week’s heroic final term against North Melbourne and will be a key player in Hawthorn’s run home.
Prestigiacomo spent the second term off injured after he was injured in a marking contest with Michael Osborne. He returned to the ground but couldn’t contain Franklin and the other Hawthorn forwards.
The Hawthorn disposal was flawless while Collingwood made unforced errors all around the ground.
For the Magpies, Dane Swan (35 touches) gave his usual consistent effort in the midfield, while Shane O’Bree started well but faded, finishing with 21 disposals of his own.
Heath Shaw rebounded well from the back half all night. He read the play perfectly, managing to hold back when the incoming kick looked to be long and push forward when it looked like falling short.
Forward Travis Cloke had another quiet night, he was well held by seventh-gamer Ryan Schoenmakers.
Nuggety Hawk Ben McGlynn had the job on in-form Magpie Alan Didak and was on a mission to give him the irrits. The firey Didak was involved in plenty of push and shoves but was largely ineffective.
Collingwood’s loss leaves them one game off the third-placed Bulldogs and level on points in fourth spot with Adelaide who play St Kilda on Sunday.
The Hawks are proven performers in September and are now are knocking on the door of the eight.
Exciting times lie ahead.
MATCH DETAILS
Collingwood 2.3 7.5 7.7 11.10 (76)
Hawthorn 3.4 5.6 12.9 18.13 (120)
GOALS
Collingwood: Lockyer 3, Anthony 2, O’Bree, Swan, Medhurst, Wood, Pendlebury, Beams.
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Mitchell 3, Hodge 3, Roughead 2, Dowler, Ellis, McGlynn, Lewis, Rioli
BEST
Collingwood: Shaw, Davis, Swan, Pendlebury, Lockyer, O’Bree
Hawthorn: Hodge, Mitchell, Franklin, McGlynn, Lewis, Schoenmakers
INJURIES
Collingwood: N. Brown (ankle)
Hawthorn: Mitchell (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Nicholls, McInerney
Official crowd: 66,149 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
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