THERE will be tougher challenges on the run home, but Hawthorn's finals bid remains on track after a clinical 59-point drubbing of Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Pressure was on Alastair Clarkson's men to avoid a slip-up against the Dockers on their home deck, but a lightning start set the tone for a comfortable cruise back into the top eight.
The Hawks' 11th victory of the season pushed them up to seventh spot on the ladder ahead of a mouthwatering clash with arch-rival Essendon at the MCG on Saturday, which will have major ramifications in the finals race.
The Dockers are officially done as far as 2018's finals make-up, even though, realistically, that slightly-ajar door slammed shut weeks ago.
Sunday's clash looked a potential banana peel for the Hawks, but they were never threatened in the 17.10 (112) to 7.11 (53) triumph.
Brownlow Medal favourite Tom Mitchell drove the victory, relishing the early freedom afforded by Ross Lyon when the Dockers coach neglected sending tagger Bailey Banfield to lock him down.
Mitchell had 11 touches, four centre clearances and three inside 50s in the first term alone, and the Hawks jumped out of the gates with the first two goals before Freo had even got hands to the ball for a disposal.
Mitchell finished with 42 possessions – topping 40 for the third week in a row – eight inside 50s and two goals, doing as he pleased in the Hawks' romp.
He almost certainly pocketed another three Brownlow votes, while deadeye Luke Breust drilled four straight majors to stay within striking distance of an unlikely Coleman Medal shot, eight goals behind leader Ben Brown.
With 11 individual goalkickers, Hawthorn's spread of firepower blew Freo away.
At the other end, the Dockers couldn't find a reliable avenue to goal in an increasingly familiar story.
They averaged only 60 points in the previous four games, and spearhead Matt Taberner would have to be in contention for next round's Western Derby after a successful return from injury at Peel on Saturday.
The Dockers went goalless for more than two quarters on Sunday, a drought which stretched from the 12-minute mark of the first term after Ed Langdon's super snap dragged them within a point.
They couldn't find the major opening again until the 22-mark of the third term when the ever-reliable David Mundy converted.
But by then Hawthorn had killed the contest by piling on eight unanswered goals.
Returning stars Jaeger O'Meara (33 disposals, one goal) and Shaun Burgoyne (20, one) had huge influences after coming back from injury, wingman Isaac Smith (22) and Liam Shiels (27, one goal) were busy and underrated defender Ben Stratton was impassable.
It was the usual suspects who stood up for Freo, with ball magnet Lachie Neale (37) and David Mundy (34, one) working tirelessly.
Langdon continued his stellar Optus Stadium form with 26 touches and a goal - after having only seven disposals against Essendon - and defender Joel Hamling (eight marks) was one of few others who could his head high.
While the Hawks face a challenging run home, they received a handy percentage boost on Sunday and topped 100 points against Freo for the 10th time in the past 17 meetings.
The Dockers have returned the favour only once in that time and have now lost 14 of the past 16 clashes between the clubs, with Ross Lyon's coaching record against four-time premiership mastermind Clarkson now standing at four wins from 17 bouts.
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle: Darcy Tucker curled up on the ground after a solid bump from Ben Stratton in the first quarter and was on his haunches on the bench soon after but was quickly back in the action. Cam Sutcliffe's day was over in the final term due to a hamstring injury.
Hawthorn: The Hawks seemingly got through unscathed.
NEXT UP
Both sides face their most bitter rivals. The Hawks will face Essendon in what promises to be a beauty at the MCG in a Saturday afternoon, while Fremantle will be seeking to end a run of six straight Western Derby losses on Sunday.
FREMANTLE 3.3 3.5 4.9 7.11 (53)
HAWTHORN 5.2 8.6 14.8 17.10 (112)
GOALS
Fremantle: Darcy, Banfield, Langdon, Mundy, Brayshaw, Tucker, Ryan
Hawthorn: Breust 4, Gunston 2, Mitchell 2, Schoenmakers 2, Puopolo, Roughead, Shiels, Miles, Burgoyne, Hardwick, O'Meara
BEST
Fremantle: Mundy, Neale, Langdon, Brayshaw, S.Hill
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Breust, O'Meara, Stratton, Shiels, Burgoyne
INJURIES
Fremantle: Cam Sutcliffe (left hamstring)
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Haussen, Dalgleish
Official crowd: 41,845 at Optus Stadium
