The Western Bulldogs have made the reigning premiers look like wooden spoon contenders rather than flag challengers by dishing out an 88-point thrashing to Hawthorn in front of over 36,000 at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The third-placed Dogs played near-perfect footy in the first term to build a 9.6 to 0.2 quarter-time lead and never looked back en route to completing a 19.19 (133) to 6.9 (45) rout. The Bulldogs slowed down a bit in the second half, booting six goals to Hawthorn’s six.

The Bulldogs’ 10th win and fifth in a row in 2009 sets up a mouth-watering clash with Collingwood next Friday night, the Pies entering the match on the back of six straight victories.

Such was the Bulldogs’ dominance in the first half Hawthorn did not kick a goal in the first two quarters and at half-time Hawk players were booed and jeered by supporters who were no doubt toasting and lauding their side after its 2009 Grand Final win.

If club president Jeff Kennett felt it necessary to write an open letter of apology to supporters on the Hawthorn website after the Brisbane Lions smashed the Hawks in Tasmania, there is no telling how the outspoken leader will react after this one.

On a more serious note, Lance Franklin continues to struggle this year, and although 3AW’s Denis Pagan said he had mail the spearhead carried an injury into this match, ‘Buddy’ looked completely out of touch and low on confidence.

Hawthorn’s more fickle fans felt it necessary to give their century goal-kicker the ‘Bronx’ cheers whenever he won possession in the second half. Franklin had 11 possessions and kicked 0.1.

But enough doom and gloom, this match was won by the Dogs more than the Hawks lost it.

The Bulldogs looked more organised from the start, and with players like Ryan Griffen (31 possessions), Adam Cooney (32), Boyd (35) and Daniel Cross (23) winning first possession out of the centre and sharing the ball beautifully with team-mates up the ground who finished the work – the result was never in doubt.

The Bulldogs’ backline looks very settled now, with Brian Lake taking out the key opposition forward most weeks and Jarrod Harbrow – one of the league’s most-improved players – providing his side with plenty of drive and creativity with most of his 26 disposals. Dale Morris was solid tonight - as he always is down back.

Coach Rodney Eade’s decision to shift Robert Murphy to a defensive post is also paying dividends, while Ryan Hargrave (32 touches) is another running defender at the peak of his powers.

Scott Welsh, Brad Johnson and Shaun Higgins booted three goals apiece for the Dogs, with Jason Akermanis, Matthew Boyd and Josh Hill adding two apiece.

Nathan Eagleton finished with 21 possessions in his 250th game.

For the Hawks, Jordan Lewis kicked three goals from his 23 possessions and nine marks. Jarryd Roughead booted two goals for the Hawks and also kicked his side’s first goal of the game six minutes into the third term. Morris barely gave Roughead an inch all night, however.

Josh Kennedy can hold his head high after amassing 19 touches and working hard with Brad Sewell and Luke Hodge not shirking the task at any stage. Sam Mitchell tried hard.

The Bulldogs’ first term of 9.6 to 0.2 was their record highest score in an opening quarter at Etihad Stadium under its various names, and was set up by a 145-possession term where Rodney Eade’s men turned the ball over just nine times.

One could concentrate on the negatives for Hawthorn, but it was simply an awesome period for the Dogs with Akermanis and Welsh booting two goals and Griffen and Hargrave winning 12 disposals apiece and using the Sherrin perfectly.

The Bulldogs went inside 50 19 times to Hawthorn’s six (the Hawks didn’t take a mark inside their 50) and led in the ‘marks taken’ statistical category 40-17.

After the dust settled on the Bulldogs’ stunning first term, they didn’t show any mercy in the second stanza.

Lindsay Gilbee registered his first goal two minutes in to give the Dogs a 64-point lead, and although Hawthorn fought a ‘nil-all’ draw so to speak for the next 13 minutes, Welsh’s third major amazingly extended the gap to 70 points.

The Dogs were playing with that much confidence that players like Harbrough and Liam Picken were hitting targets with look-away snap shots. With Higgins and Johnson notching their second goals the margin blew out to 84 points by half-time.

The Dogs went into this match without injured key player Daniel Giansiracusa while the Hawks are still missing Mark Williams, Cyril Rioli, Trent Croad and Clinton Young but had 16 premiership players running around tonight.

Hawthorn (6-8, 10th with 88 per cent – 11th if Sydney defeats North Melbourne on Sunday) hosts the Kangaroos in Tasmania next Sunday as it tries to keep finals hopes alive.

Hawks title defence all over?

Hawthorn is sitting 10th on the AFL ladder after being thrashed by the Bulldogs and could be as low as 11th by the end of Round 14. What has gone wrong this year? Can Hawthorn bounce back quickly or will 2009 go down as nothing more than a 'premiership hangover'?

The leader of the (dog) pack

Western Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson speaks to 3AW Football from the jubilant rooms after his side made Hawthorn look silly. He talks about whetehr he thinks the Dos have improvedd from last season and discusses his future after 2009.

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