Hawthorn has defeated a brave Essendon with a 11-goal second half to secure a 38-point victory at the MCG on Saturday.
The Bombers took the fight up to the Hawks in the first half, playing with good intensity after their round 11 bye and threatened a repeat of their shock round two win over the reigning premiers when they were just one point behind at the main break.
But the Hawks put the foot down in the third term kicking six goals to the Bombers' two to set up a 16.18 (114) to 11.10 (76) victory, which was their fourth win in a row and their sixth from their past seven clashes against the Bombers.
However, Hawthorn's victory was soured by a shoulder injury to James Frawley that could sideline the key defender for the rest of the season.
Frawley was substituted out of the game after appearing todislocate his shoulder in a marking contest early in the second term, an injury that followed his pectoral strain in the Hawks' round two loss to the Bombers.
Leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins told 3AW at half-time that Frawley would require surgery to repair his shoulder at some stage, a procedure that would sideline the key defender for about three months.
The Hawks also lost Cyril Rioli before the match due to a family funeral but Paul Puopolo stood up in the star small forward's absence, kicking four goals, including threein Hawthorn's match-winning third quarter.
Sam Mitchell shrugged off a third-term corkie to his right leg to dominate through the midfield for Hawthorn, racking up 33 possessions and five clearances, and he was ably supported by Liam Shiels (28 possessions and seven clearances).
Puopolo had plenty of support in attack from Jack Gunston, whose three first-half goals kept the Hawks in touch as the Bombers were having the better of general play.
It was only some uncharacteristic inaccuracy in front of goal in the second half – he kicked four behinds – that stopped Gunston from kicking a bag.
Brian Lake and Josh Gibson held the Hawks' defence together in Frawley's absence, with Lake keeping an inaccurate Joe Daniher to 1.2 while Gibson racked up 22 possessions and five rebound 50s.
Jarryd Roughead and Essendon defender Michael Hurley waged an enthralling duel. The Hawks spearhead kicked just one goal, but he drifted into the midfield regularly and racked up 29 possessions that included seven clearances and four inside 50s.
Hurley also gave the Dons a lot of drive from defence, finishing with 29 possessions and six rebound 50s.
It was hard to fault Essendon's effort and it fought out the last term with four goals when a blowout loss looked on the cards.
But the defeat was the Bombers' fourth in a row and means their finals hopes are now hanging by a thread.
After a promising start to the season, Essendon has now lost six of its last seven matches, its only win in that period coming against the lowly Brisbane Lions.
Zach Merrett (31 possessions) and Brendon Goddard (32) were prolific ball winners for Bombers, Shaun McKernan gave them some presence in the ruck after being elevated from the rookie list during the week, and Jake Carlisle kicked three goals.
Essendon made a fast start after its round 12 bye, kicking the first two goals of the game as it controlled general play and pressured the Hawks into uncharacteristic skill errors.
The Hawks hit back to kick the term's final two goals and trailed by just one point at quarter-time.
But Essendon's lead could easily have been greater, with spearheads Daniher and Carlisle together missing three relatively simple set shots.
The Bombers maintained their defensive intensity in the second term, kicking two of the first three goals to maintain the lead up until a Gunston goal levelled the scores at the 19-minute mark.
The Dons replied quickly from the next centre bounce when Jake Melksham converted on the run from 50m, but Gunston goaled to level the scores again three minutes later.
The Hawks took the lead for the first time six minutes later when Roughead kicked a behind from 45m, a one-point buffer they maintained until half-time.
HAWTHORN 2.4 5.8 11.14 16.10 (114)
ESSENDON 2.5 5.7 7.8 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Puopolo 4, Gunston 3, Hill 3, Suckling 2, Smith, Breust, Langford, Roughead
Essendon: Carlisle 3, J.Merrett 2, McKernan, Goddard, Melksham, Cooney, Dempsey, Daniher
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gunston, Puopolo, Lake, Roughead, Gibson
Essendon: Hurley, Z.Merrett, McKernan, Heppell, Goddard
INJURIES
Hawthorn: James Frawley (shoulder), Sam Mitchell (corked leg)
Essendon: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Matthew Suckling replaced James Frawley in the second quarter
Essendon: Elliott Kavanagh replaced Shaun Edwards in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Kamolins, Findlay
Official crowd: 62,500 at the MCG
