Hawks captain Luke Hodge booted five goals in his first game since round six, helping the Hawks run out 27.18 (180) to 12.14 (86) winners and extend their unbeaten streak to eight.

Capping a perfect night for Alastair Clarkson's team after a turbulent week, ruckman Max Bailey also made a successful comeback from injury, and Cyril Rioli was brilliant in his 100th game.

Hawthorn dominated from the outset, booting the first eight goals of the match to open a 43-point quarter-time lead - its biggest first-term lead of all-time against the Bombers.

Essendon didn't show any life until the third quarter, when it managed six goals, but the Hawks took back control in the final term and won going away.

Hodge played exclusively as a forward and showed his class with several contested marks and pinpoint passes to go with his bag of goals.

The 28-year-old was subbed out of the game at three-quarter time.

Rioli had 21 touches, including seven clearances, laid nine tackles and a brilliant smother, and booted two goals.

Alongside Hodge up forward, exciting youngster Jack Gunston continued his rise, booting three goals and taking some towering marks.

Gunston has now kicked 10 goals in the three weeks that Coleman Medal leader Lance Franklin has missed with a hamstring strain.

Hodge and Gunston were two of 12 different goalkickers for Hawthorn, with Matt Suckling contributing four and Jarryd Roughead three.

Brad Sewell was superb early in the game, setting the tone at stoppages.

Down back, Josh Gibson spoiled relentlessly, and Suckling found it too easy to find space and hurt Essendon with his silky kicking.

Ruckman Bailey, a late inclusion for the injured David Hale, had 25 hitouts in his first AFL game of the season.

Already severely undermanned with Michael Hurley, David Zaharakis, Paddy Ryder, David Myers and Michael Hibberd all missing, the Bombers lost Stewart Crameri and Cale Hooker 90 minutes out from the first bounce.

Of those who did play, only Jobe Watson could count himself a clear winner on the night.

The Essendon skipper had 37 disposals, including nine clearances, in a determined in-and-under performance.

Scott Gumbleton was well beaten by Ryan Schoenmakers to half-time, but responded with four second-half goals to be his team's leading goalkicker.

It was the injury-prone forward's best career haul.