A career-best eight-goal haul from Jarryd Roughead has helped Hawthorn outclass West Coast in Launceston.
The Hawks were tested early but responded as AFL premiers should, running out 19.9 (123) to 12.7 (79) winners on Saturday.
It was Roughead that lead the way, with four second-quarter goals putting the Hawks in control.
The Eagles could not contain Roughead, who grabbed eight marks and 24 touches to go with his big bag of majors.
The pick of the bunch was a 55-metre bomb from the pocket that had the 15,503 crowd roaring.
If Roughead was the headliner, Luke Lowden was a popular side-show with three goals in his AFL debut.
After waiting six seasons to play his first game for the Hawks, Lowden was celebrated by every teammate when his first kick earned his side six points.
As opposed to last week's nervy win over the Giants, the Hawks showed their best in patches, with trademark fast movement and sharp kicking.
It was two spells that signalled death for the Eagles - five goals straight at both the end of the second and third terms.
Interim coach Brendon Bolton revealed the motivation for the 44-point win came from the Hawks' lacklustre showing against the Giants six days earlier.
"(Roughead) is a very proud person and wasn't happy with how he performed last week," he said.
"What's really pleasing is our three leaders on the ground - (Luke) Hodge, (Jordan) Lewis and Roughead - stood up, won contested footy and they showed the way for the others.
"Good leadership, it really helps."
The cheery young coach had reason to smile, with the win keeping Hawthorn on the pace of league leaders Port Adelaide.
Captain Luke Hodge was back to his imposing best after a poor showing against the Giants, while young defenders Taylor Duryea and Angus Litherland impressed.
The one sour note for the Hawks was an elbow injury that will sideline Billy Hartung.
Hartung had been on the ground just ten minutes after giving the vest to the lively Cyril Rioli on his return from a hamstring injury.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson, who sat in the Hawthorn coaching box for four years as Alastair Clarkson's assistant, said the Hawks were ruthless.
"When the game was in the balance in the second quarter, you clearly see they went to another level and we couldn't match it," he said.
"When they smell blood, they can really strike."
The loss leaves the Eagles with a 4-7 win-loss record and finals ambitions hanging by a thread.
"Roughy touched us up today," a disappointed Simpson concluded.
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