Jarryd Roughead and Jake Melksham added another chapter to their clubs' fierce rivalry but Hawthorn were far too strong for Essendon in their AFL battle on Friday night.
The Hawks withstood an early challenge from the Bombers in Friday night's blockbuster at Etihad Stadium and then dominated to consolidate top spot with a 56-point win.
The 22.11 (143) to 13.9 (87) result is the third time this season that the second-placed Bombers have been found wanting against another top-four side.
Regardless of what happens to Essendon once their anti-doping investigations are finalised next month, this defeat strongly suggested they are not yet premiership contenders.
Lance Franklin kicked eight goals to again torment Essendon and Sam Mitchell also starred for the victors.
Roughead, who kicked four goals for the Hawks, and Melksham are certain to come under video review for two clashes during the third term.
The Essendon midfielder first collected Roughead high 10 minutes into the quarter as the Hawks utility tried to shepherd him.
A couple of minutes later, the emergency umpire ran out to separate the pair as they clashed again off the ball.
With tempers fraying, Essendon's Nick Kommer also pushed Isaac Smith into the boundary line fence.
But the Hawks were well in charge at the time and the clashes made no difference.
Essendon started well and led by 13 points in the first term.
The Hawks then kicked the last four goals of the quarter to lead by 10.
With Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis taking control in the midfield and Cyril Rioli always dangerous, the Hawks kicked four goals to one in the second term.
They led by 32 points at halftime and Essendon never looked like challenging.
Previously this season, third-placed Geelong beat Essendon by 28 points and fourth side Sydney took care of them by 44 points.
The Bombers have improved this season - and captain Jobe Watson remains sidelined through injury - but they are still developing.
Rioli gave Hawthorn a scare when he went off in the third term and had treatment on his troublesome hamstring.
But he was able to play out the game.
Dyson Heppell and Tom Bellchambers were best on a confronting night for the Bombers.
It also capped a forgettable week for the club, with more intense scrutiny over their supplements crisis.
Melksham was reported in the third quarter for rough conduct against Roughead.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson was rapt with his side's performance, saying they had risen to the occasion after a heavy workload over the past month.
"Essendon play this ground really, really well and to be able to stop the flow of the way they like to play their footy was really important," he said.
Asked if he felt Hawthorn were peaking at the right time, Clarkson replied: "no - we want to be peaking in September."
Essendon coach James Hird remains upbeat about his team's prospects for the rest of the season, saying they learnt valuable lessons in the loss.
"Obviously we were outplayed by a very good team," he said.
"Their ability to beat us up around the contest, win more contested footy and then control the ball - that was probably the most disappointing part.
"We weren't able to keep the game in a contest."
Share
