North Melbourne was overwhelmed by Hawthorn to the tune of 60 points in a fiery clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
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The Hawks were switched on from the opening bounce, piling on six goals in the first term, but while that quarter set the tone for their 19.16 (130) to 10.10 (70) win it might also cost them their captain and one of their two vice-captains for next Saturday's clash with Greater Western Sydney.
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Joint Hawks vice-captain Jordan Lewis was reported at the 24-minute mark of the first quarter for a late and crude round-arm spoil that collected North ruckman Todd Goldstein in the head.
Ten minutes earlier, Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge hit North counterpart Andrew Swallow with a left forearm to the jaw that momentarily put the North skipper on the ground.
Hodge was not reported for the incident but it is likely to attract the attention of the Match Review Panel.
Much of Saturday night's game was played at a frenetic pace as both teams, especially North, looked to move the ball quickly at every opportunity.
The Roos' attack on the ball and defensive pressure could not be questioned but the Hawks proved too classy, slicing through their defences with clinical foot skills.
After trailing by 23 points at half-time, the Roos faded badly in the second half, with their night soured even further when Swallow was substituted from the game after copping a high tackle from Stratton late in the third term.
Brent Harvey (30 possessions) tried hard all night to generate run for North across half-back, Todd Goldstein was solid in the ruck, Jack Ziebell threw himself in with his trademark courage at stoppages and Sam Wright stood up well in defence.
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North coach Brad Scott said the most disappointing aspect of his team's performance was that it was out-worked by the Hawks.
"Hawthorn were good, they responded the way good sides respond after a loss and we were poor, so I thought that that was the margin in the end," Scott said.
"I thought in and around the contests, the clearances, the contested possession for most of the night was pretty good.
"But we got out-worked and that was the really disappointing part for us because it's a part of our game that we pride ourselves on and we're usually pretty good at."
Jack Gunston was outstanding for the Hawks, finishing with 23 possessions and four goals, while Luke Breust also kicked four majors.
Sam Mitchell had 33 disposals and kicked a goal.
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.1 4.3 7.8 10.10 (70)
HAWTHORN 6.4 7.8 12.13 19.16 (130)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 3, Thomas 2, Petrie 2, Swallow, Higgins, Cunnington
Hawthorn: Breust 4, Ceglar 3, Roughead 3, Gunston 3, Smith 2, Rioli, Lewis, Mitchell, Hill
BEST
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Harvey, Brown, Ziebell, Wright, Cunnington
Hawthorn: Gunston, Mitchell, Birchall, Smith, Hodge, Breust
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Jarrad Waite (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Aaron Black
Hawthorn: Paul Puopolo (corked leg) replaced in selected side by Brendan Whitecross, Josh Gibson (nose)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Kayne Turner replaced Andrew Swallow in the fourth quarter
Hawthorn: Brendan Whitecross replaced Taylor Duryea in the fourth quarter
Reports: Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn) for striking Todd Goldstein in the first quarter.
Umpires: Nicholls, Hay, Jeffery
Official crowd: 38,077 at Etihad Stadium
