It was far from the best edition of the pair's AFL rivalry but Hawthorn got what they came for against Essendon, returning to the top four with a 38-point win.
Prior to the first bounce, Bombers coach James Hird upped the ante by declaring the Hawks his most hated team.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson responded by plastering the Hawthorn locker rooms with those words from a newspaper headline.
After a tight scrap of a first half, hopes were raised that all of the talk and on-field fight would turn into another MCG classic between the two arch-rivals.
By full-time though, it had become another Hawthorn runaway victory.
The Hawks engine coughed and spluttered during the first half before roaring into life as the reigning premiers claimed a 16.18 (114) to 11.10 (76) win in front of 62,500.
Paul Puopolo kicked four majors, supported by three goals to Jack Gunston and Bradley Hill.
In midfield, a typical Sam Mitchell effort was backed up by strong work by Liam Shiels and a roaming Jarryd Roughead.
And down back, the toughness of Taylor Duryea and Josh Gibson's presence stood out.
But Hawthorn didn't have it all their own way, losing James Frawley to a shoulder injury early in the second term - his second serious injury this season against the Bombers - in a half of football they'd rather forget.
Essendon were able to clog up Hawthorn's quick ball movement in the first half, keeping in touch with the reigning premiers.
After half-time, the Hawks flicked the switch to kick eight of the next ten goals and settle the contest.
Without a centre clearance in the first half, Clarkson conceded his tactic of highlighting Hird's words hadn't worked.
"That wasn't the sole reason we were getting torched but it was indicative of how we were going about it," he said.
"If it was going to have an impact, we'd have come out pretty fired up in the first 10 minutes of the game and we were pretty scratchy."
Clarkson said the severity of Frawley's injury was unclear.
"He's got some sort or shoulder damage, whether it's AC or a dislocation, I'm unsure," he said.
Hird said he believed his playing group would have enough to maintain a challenge for finals despite slumping to 4-8 with a fourth straight loss.
"It's going to be tough but we think we have," he said.
"A few things need to click for us ... we're going to have to get our skates on and start winning very quickly."
Hird said Essendon's next month against teams all outside the eight - St Kilda, Melbourne, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide - in Melbourne would be crucial.
"If we win four, we're a good chance ... everyone will know a lot more about where Essendon stands in four weeks time."
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