Star forward Lance Franklin was instrumental in Hawthorn's victory, kicking 9.5 in its 19.16 (130) to 12.7 (79) defeat of the Bombers.
Essendon were brave, especially in the first half, but a six goal to two third quarter took the match away from the Dons after hard running and plenty of endeavor saw them go into the main break trailing by just seven points.
The scenario should have been even better for the home team, but a frenetic start that saw the Bombers dominate the opening exchanges did not spill over to the scoreboard. The only reward for Essendon's excellent first 15 minutes was Sam Lonergan's opening goal, kicked after he received a 50m penalty.
Matthew Lloyd stretched the lead for Essendon before Hawthorn clicked into action with quick goals to Tim Clarke, Luke Hodge and Franklin, whose freakish snap broke opponent Paddy Ryder's early hold on the superstar Hawk.
Lloyd marked strongly to bring Essendon back on level terms but Franklin's long goal took the Hawks out to a six-point lead at quarter time.
The margin was quickly stretched after the break with early goals to Hodge and Franklin, but first Scott Lucas and then Jason Winderlich steadied the ship for the Bombers with two goals in as many minutes.
Further goals to Franklin and Hodge were cancelled out by two more to Lucas, who finished the first half of his 250th match with three.
Franklin's fifth was answered by Adam McPhee, whose after-the-siren goal kept the Bombers well and truly in touch at the major break.
But, despite Angus Monfries' opening goal bringing Essendon to within a point, the third term belonged the Hawthorn. Jarryd Roughead matched Franklin's two-goal effort in the term, and majors to Boyle and a brilliant grubber to Osborne took Hawthorn's lead to a match-winning 34 points at three-quarter time.
By the time the fourth quarter begun, the run that had served the Bombers so well in the first half had dried up and 'Buddy-watch' was on to see just how many more goals the competition's most exciting player could snaffle.
That count ended at nine and, on paper, it would seem that Ryder – the man who had the unfortunate task of trying to stop the League's leading goalkicker for the majority of the night – had been taken apart.
But there were mitigating circumstances: the midfield delivery to Franklin often left Ryder without a chance of preventing the leading forward from getting his hands on the ball; and Dustin Fletcher did take some time on the star Hawk. On occasion, Ryder also took on Franklin in the air and won.
The victories, though, were too fleeting to restrain Franklin, who now appears almost certain to kick 100 goals at some stage in the season.
For the Bombers, Jason Winderlich was a solid contributor with 20 possessions and two goals, and coach Matthew Knights would also be pleased with the efforts of Mark McVeigh (24 possessions) and Brent Stanton (26).
Young Essendon tall Tom Bellchambers made his AFL debut after being a late inclusion for ruckman Jason Laycock.
Essendon 3.3 8.4 10.7 12.7 (79)
Hawthorn 4.3 9.5 15.11 19.16 (130)
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
