Hawthorn have dished out the first defeat of the season to the Western Bulldogs, who lost star midfielder Ed Richards to a leg injury in a 42-point loss.
The Hawks triumphed 14.14 (98) to 7.14 (56) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, with the Dogs’ misery compounded by another injury to Richards.
The brilliant on-baller, long troubled by knee injuries, limped off after his right leg twisted awkwardly late in the Bulldogs’ first loss this season.
The Dogs join Sydney, Fremantle and the Hawks with four wins and a loss, clear of the chasing pack.
Jai Newcombe produced the complete midfield game: 28 disposals, 14 clearances and a goal.
His co-skipper James Sicily and Josh Battle both took 13 marks in defence, and Jack Ginnivan was a standout.
Ginnivan’s 28 touches included a classy goal, while winger Karl Amon (24 possessions), Jarman Impey (26) and Blake Hardwick (25) were all prominent.
Hawk forward Lewis grabbed 10 marks in his imposing three-goal performance, and veteran Jack Gunston (three goals) and Dylan Moore (two) were other scoring threats.
The Bulldogs, with Newcombe in charge and Hawthorn dominating stoppage clearances 34-16, struggled to assert customary midfield control.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli (26 disposals) was busy, alongside Ryley Sanders (25 disposals) and Richards, who had 22 disposals and seven tackles before being hurt.
Some MORE Watson magic helps the Hawks to another 🤝#AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/oNWe2zUxZX
— AFL (@AFL) April 11, 2026
Ace attacker Sam Darcy kicked two goals, both in the first quarter — the first from a free kick, the second after a mark.
Hawthorn had the best of the opening erm, with Lewis kicking two of four goals for a nine-point quarter-time lead.
The Hawks then put the squeeze on the Dogs, holding them goal-less in a decisive second term to create a 28-point advantage at halftime, when prime mover Newcombe already had eight of his side’s 22 clearances — the Bulldogs had only a dozen.
The Dogs, after blowing a series of set shots, reduced their deficit two minutes into the third quarter when Joel Freijah ran in to an open goal.
But the Hawks accelerated again with three goals in less than four minutes.
Livewire Nick Watson kicked one and set up another, and the influential Ginnivan’s classy left-foot snap helped create a match-high 44-point break.
The Dogs appeared to be on canvas but were revived by young pups Josh Dolan, Harvey Gallagher and Cooper Hynes.
The inexperienced trio all slotted goals in a rapid retort from the previously unbeaten Bulldogs, who were 21 points down at three-quarter time.
But the Hawks expertly closed out victory before 48,481 spectators, kicking three consecutive goals before Bulldogs playmaker Richards hobbled off.
