Hawks' finals charge ON despite skipper's injury blow as woeful ...

Hawthorn’s winning streak has rolled on with a 61-point demolition of a hapless West Coast outfit on Sunday.

The Hawks piled on the pain to run away 14.10 (94) to 4.9 (33) winners at Optus Stadium - taking their streak to five in impressive scenes.

Sam Mitchell’s men were on from the opening bounce and never relented - despite some wayward first half goal kicking.

Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The result is the Hawks’ biggest ever win at Optus Stadium as they remain a shock finals contender in the run home.

The only downside was a shoulder injury to skipper James Sicily that saw him take no part in the final term of the contest.

For West Coast, the loss was an embarrassment in front of almost 50,000 home fans.

The Eagles managed just two goals in the opening three quarters in worrying signs for coach Adam Simpson.

QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT

A big Jack Scrimshaw spoil in the centre of the field set the tone for the Hawks as they absolutely dominated the first term.

The Eagles just couldn’t clear their back half as the visitors peppered the goals for little reward. Changkuoth Jiath finally got the first - but his side butchered shots on goal.

“They’ve had some opportunities the Hawks,” commentator Matthew Pavlich said.

“They should be further ahead with the opportunities they’ve had,” Adam Papalia added.

“Really dominated that opening quarter and could have been a lot further ahead.”

Only defensive duo Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass kept West Coast in the contest as they had 10 intercepts between them.

When Hawk Dylan Moore capitalised on a “structural fail” by West Coast at a stoppage, suddenly the visitors were up by 17 points.

“You can just see Hawthorn are cracking in,” Will Schofield said.

At the first change, Hawthorn led 20-3.

It took less than 20 seconds for Jamaine Jones to break West Coast’s goal drought as he showed plenty of pace.

Hawk Mabior Chol pulled in a massive contested grab but again blew his chance in front of goal - only 25m out, keeping West Coast within striking distance.

The Eagles couldn’t find a target forward of centre and eventually Lloyd Meek made them pay.

A “rusty” Harley Reid couldn’t get his two shots on goal go late in the second term when the Eagles desperately needed a spark.

But when Reid found space through the middle of the ground, he hit Jake Waterman who, after a free kick, nailed the goal and brought the Eagles within 11 points.

“Can you believe it West Coast get within two goals?” Schofield said.

“This just feels like a Hawthorn game through and through.”

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell was clearly frustrated in the box as he lashed out and punched an advertising board behind him.

“He gave one to the Colonel!” commentator Dwayne Russell said.

“Sam Mitchell getting a bit hot and spicy,” Papalia added.

At the main break, it was Hawthorn leading 35-18.

The Eagles suffered a big blow early in the third when Jake Waterman limped off and went straight down to the rooms.

And when Matt Flynn made his way to the bench in pain, West Coast’s tall stocks took another hit with the ruckman subbed out.

The Hawks made their move in the third as the margin blew out to 45 points.

“It’s getting ugly for the home team,” Papalia said.

“They had so many options... they could have waltzed in!” Pavlich added of Moore’s goal.

West Coast’s forward line looked in disarray before Jeremy McGovern was marched inside 50, thanks to a 50m penalty, and nailed his shot.

At the final change, it was the Hawks leading 63-24.

The final quarter was simply a formality as the Hawks added a percentage boost against a hapless West Coast outfit.

THE 3-2-1...

3. HAWKS WASTEFUL… BUT GET IT DONE WITH ‘CLARKSON-LIKE’ TACTIC

Hawthorn could and should have had the game won at quarter time – but butchered their opportunities.

The Hawks had a whopping seven to one centre clearances in the opening term but couldn’t put their dominance on the scoreboard.

The visitors took complete control by the main break as West Coast simply couldn’t clear from their back half, but didn’t have the four points in the bag until three quarter time due to inaccuracy.

Fox Footy’s Will Schofield said the Hawks were showing shades of “Clarkson 2008” in the way they defended the ground.

“The way they’ve defended over the last six weeks has been a bit different,” he praised as the Hawks claimed a fifth straight win.

“You can see Hawthorn go into a zone – this is Clarkson 2008 territory when (Alastair) Clarkson introduced this to the footy club and footy world.

“It allows them to defend the short hit ups. They close down the contest when it goes long… then if they can turn this over, they are free on the other way.”

Schofield and fellow commentator Matthew Pavlich agreed the Hawks loomed as a danger side in the run to the finals.

“This is a side outside the top eight that is moving,” Schofield praised.

“You don’t want to play them in the run home,” Pavlich added.

“It really has been a dominant performance from the Hawks, particularly in and around the ball.”

2. WOEFUL EAGLES ACCUSED OF ‘THROWING IN THE TOWEL’

West Coast were “dreadful” in the 61-point loss on Sunday, and were even accused of throwing in the towel in dreadful scenes.

The Eagles managed just two goals in the entire second half as their forward line – with a returning co-captain Oscar Allen – just failed to fire a shot.

Their midfield was smashed by the hungry young Hawks in alarming signs for coach Adam Simpson.

“They have been spanked,” commentator Matthew Pavlich said of the Eagles’ mids.

“The likes of (Elliot) Yeo, (Harley) Reid, (Tim) Kelly, (Reuben) Ginbey, they haven’t got their hands on the ball.”

By the third term, West Coast had already coughed up 40 points from their defensive half.

“It’s a lack of intent, lack of effort from the Eagles,” Pavlich said.

“It’s almost ‘hey it’s too hard today for us and we’re just going to throw in the towel’.

“The lack of chase from the midfield group to hunt that ball to begin with.”

Jeremy McGovern did everything he could for his club, kicking one of the four goals and managing 20 disposals before coming from the field under an injury cloud.

“Without him, West Coast would have lost by 100 more than likely,” former Eagle Will Schofield said.

McGovern was ably assisted by fellow defender Tom Barrass who did his best in the onslaught.

“Tom Barrass is trying to play on three people back there – and still couldn’t get anyone to help,” Schofield lamented of the Eagles’ defensive efforts.

“Coming into this game, externally at least there’s been high expectations this is the best team West Coast have put out there – well they certainly haven’t played like it.

“When West Coast have looked competitive, it’s the effort. There’s little to none out there today.”

“There’s losses and then throw in the towel losses,” Dwayne Russell added of the dark West Coast day.

1. TO RUSH OR NOT TO RUSH?

Just hours after Essendon’s Jye Menzie was penalized for a deliberate rushed behind, his former teammate Massimo D’Ambrosio learned a lesson.

An uncertain D’Ambrosio refused to knock the ball over the line in the third term as players look more uncertain than ever over the exact rule.

“He was probably watching last night,” commentator Will Schofield joked.

The former full back admitted he just made assumptions on when to rush.

“That’s always the understanding I’ve had – if you’ve got pressure you can rush it through,” he said.

Commentator Dwayne Russell said the rule itself was open to interpretation.

“Inside nine is normally the point when you can rush it,” he said.

“But the rule is written differently to the way (umpire) Ray Chamberlain explained it last week – he said you need pressure within three metres of you on the line.

“(That) hasn’t clarified it for the players.

“They still don’t know if there’s a player right on your hammer you can rush it.”

Follow West Coast v Hawthorn in our live blog below!