Hawks cruise to huge AFL win over GWS

Lance Franklin was given an early rest as Hawthorn cruised to a near-record 162-point AFL win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.

The Hawks won 28.25 (193) to 4.7 (31), including a 17.14 to 2.3 second half, in what will prove a hugely-valuable percentage booster in the tight battle for top-four spots.

While the Hawks are still only fifth, they are just a game behind the top four sides with better percentage than all of them.

It was the second-biggest win the Hawks have had, trailing only their 165-point thumping of Port Adelaide last season.

Franklin, who went into the match under a slight injury cloud, kicked four goals, including the 500th of his career, before being subbed off midway through the third quarter.

While he had been subbed off with hamstring tightness in the previous round, it appeared to be a precautionary move this time.

The Hawks certainly did not need their star forward to continue ramming in the goals, with 13 other goal kickers, including six to Jarryd Roughead and three each to Luke Breust and Cyril Rioli.

The barrage started early, Shane Savage bouncing through a goal from about 75m inside the opening 30 seconds of the match, while Franklin had the two goals he needed to notch 500 within the first 20 minutes.

Franklin has 51 for the season, 12 clear of Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal race.

The Giants battled gamely in the clinches, comfortably winning the clearance and contested possession counts in the first term.

Young midfielders Toby Greene, who had an excellent battle with Sam Mitchell, and Taylor Adams both worked hard.

But the visitors could not string together passages of play under the Hawks’ pressure, while Hawthorn continually ran the ball down the ground with ease.

Rioli was very damaging with some lively midfield work early to go with his goals.

The run and accurate kicking of the likes of Matt Suckling, Grant Birchall, Jordan Lewis and Clinton Young was also very effective, while defender Josh Gibson provided enormous rebound.

At halftime, the margin was already 61 points and it became far easier for the Hawks after that as the Giants tired.

Adding to the Giants’ dirty day, young forward Jeremy Cameron, the favourite for the AFL’s Rising Star award, was reported in the third term for making high contact to Clinton Young.

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