The 18.19 (127) to 11.10 (76) result in front of 76,703 fans guarantees the Hawks a preliminary final. The Bulldogs must now play a do-or-die semi-final against the winner of Saturday night’s Swans – North clash.
The Dogs looked good early on but were simply not in the contest after half time. Hawthorn turned a 44-pont lead at the long break into 58 points at three-quarter time, and eased off in an even final term.
Hawthorn's Lance Franklin continued his outstanding season, kicking eight goals on Dogs defenders Dale Morris and Brian Lake.
Luke Hodge was also terrific, wrapping up Mitch Hahn and keeping him to seven touches, while Brad Sewell won eight clearances and 31 touches.
There were few positives for the Dogs, although Ryan Griffen played his best game in a while, and Daniel Cross never gave up, despite being flattened in the third term.
But there were too few winners and no defensive answers for the side, as the Hawks made a comprehensive statement to the other finals contenders.
Morris went to Franklin first, with Lake taking Jarryd Roughead, Jason Akermanis heading to Cyril Rioli, Ryan Hargrave to Campbell Brown, and Tim Callan to Mark Williams.
The match-ups seemed to be working in the opening term, with the two sides hard to separate.
Intensity was high, and the Dogs set the tone initially as Brad Johnson steamed down the wing with determination written all over his face.
Hawthorn snared the first goal but the Dogs responded smartly and hit the lead with 13 minutes played.
Unfortunately that would be the last time they'd be in front, as the Hawks set about establishing unbeatable momentum.
The difference at the first break was 16 points, and Rodney Eade resorted to throwing Scott Welsh into the hole to stop Franklin leading out, as the Hawks began clearing the forward 50 to leave the Coleman Medallist to his own devices.
With the clearances 11 to five Hawthorn's way, the Dogs began the second quarter needing to boost their midfield work rate.
Three missed opportunities by the Hawks in the opening two minutes let the Dogs somewhat off the hook, but things were about to get a whole lot worse.
There was panic in the Dogs' back half as Franklin escaped Morris and Lake to kick five goals by half time.
Robert Murphy was thrown into defence in an attempt to halt the Hawks' run, which was complemented by two goals to Michael Osborne.
Akermanis went forward in the second term and goaled, but the game was being won in the middle, with the Hawks streaming out to take a 44-point lead into the second half.
The Hawks lost key defender Trent Croad to injury, but the Dogs just didn't win enough of the ball after the main break to take advantage.
Hawthorn 4.5 10.12 15.17 18.19 (127)
Western Bulldogs 2.1 4.4 7.7 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 8, Osborne 4, Roughead 3, Brown, Crawford, Lewis. Western Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 3, Giansiracusa 2, Cooney 2, Hill 2, Higgins, Johnson
BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Hodge, Mitchell, Osborne, Sewell, Lewis, Roughead. Western Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Cross, Akermanis, Hill, Giansiracusa, Callan
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Croad (ankle), Birchall (corked thigh), Ladson (AC joint), Stokes (corked thigh), Gilham (virus) replaced in the selected side by Stokes
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Rosebury, Ryan
Official crowd: 76,703 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
