IF A week is a long time in football, then Hawthorn's youngsters have crammed in an awful lot of football knowledge into the past fortnight.
Cracks appeared in their armour after a 30-point loss to St Kilda in round 16, followed by a courageous, but ultimately flawed performance against reigning premier Geelong.
On Friday night, the Hawks shook off the disappointment of the previous two results to record an emphatic 54-point win against Collingwood.
Skipper Sam Mitchell led the midfield rampage for the Hawks, collecting 35 touches under the MCG lights, while forward Lance Franklin kicked eight goals from 14 scoring shots.
"We were very disappointing against the Saints, played OK against the Cats but didn't make the most of our chances, then we put pretty much three-and-a-half quarters together tonight," Mitchell said after the win.
"Some aspects could still be better, but we were happy with the effort and intensity around the ball. Our tackling and pressure on them running the ball out of their back half was exceptional.
"If you let your guard down for a few minutes they're capable of scoring and that happened tonight. They kicked five goals, had a big run on, but we slowed the game down.
"We were pretty happy with that (slowing it down) because we weren't able to against the Saints, which shows we've matured over the last couple of weeks and learned a lesson."
A 31-point margin at quarter-time, including two goals each to Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, was just the start coach Alastair Clarkson wanted from his troops.
"We knew the start of the game was really going to set the pattern and for us to get away to a good start was really pleasing," Clarkson said.
Before Friday night, Collingwood had won 15 of 17 second quarters for the year, so a five-goal margin hardly signalled the end of the contest. Harry O'Brien went to Franklin at the start of the second term, replacing Nick Maxwell, but the 21-year-old Hawk turned O'Brien inside out at the first opportunity. Franklin's shot at goal missed, keeping the Pies in the match, but when Dane Swan hit the post from close range the signs were ominous for the black-and-white army.
Late in the term, Paul Medhurst and Alan Didak goaled to limit the damage at half-time and when John Anthony goaled four minutes into the third term the Magpies were back within 23 points. Heath Shaw's goal on the burst cut the margin to 10 points less than 10 minutes into the term, forcing Hawthorn to take the heat out of the game.
"Collingwood came hard at us at the start of the third quarter, so it was really pleasing to respond in the right manner," Clarkson said. "The game was right on there, there was only a couple of goals in it and to respond and run away with the win was really pleasing."
Hawthorn controlled the centre clearances, which Magpies coach Mick Malthouse said put "enormous pressure" on his players for most of the match.
"When you get beaten 21-7 (in clearances) … you're going to get thrashed," he said. "We're not lightning (quick), but we're not the slowest team in the competition.
"It's the methodology. You've got to be able to put your hands on the football and when you put your hands on the football, you don't want to give it back to them. We gave it back to them nearly every time we had it in the first quarter." A freakish snap from Franklin halted the Magpies' momentum midway through the third term and the lead stretched back out to 24 points at the final break.
In the closing stages, Franklin completely took centre stage, booting three goals for the term plus another couple of behinds.
Several times, Malthouse was seen scratching his head. Like the 58,000 witnesses to Franklin's magic, Malthouse, too, was left in awe. "I'm not going to be surprised if Franklin breaks that record (for) the numbers of goals kicked in one game," he said. "You can't give him opportunity."
The loss leaves Collingwood in danger of slipping out of the top eight by tonight.
"When you're nine and nine and haven't won a game in three weeks, there's no easy solution," Malthouse said.
"We're all under pressure (but) if you keep at it and keep at it, the good players will turn it around at some stage for you."
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