WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Matthew Boyd says it was nice to beat Hawthorn earlier in the year, but it's a somewhat distant memory.

The Doggies beat the Hawks in round 10 down at Aurora Stadium by methodically picking their way through their rolling zone, but that was May, and this is September.

The Bulldogs had lost the week before, and weren't given a huge chance against the unbeaten Hawks in their Tasmanian stronghold.

But meticulous planning by the coaching panel and superb execution by the players got the Doggies home by a thumping 32 points.

Boyd said the side hadn't changed anything in order to roll the Hawks.

"I think we used the ball really well that week, and we are hoping to do that again," he said.

"It's something we pride ourselves on through the whole year, that our pressure has been really good throughout the year."

The 25-year-old said he was expecting to do his usual accountable job on one of the Hawks’ topline midfielders.

"Usually I get someone like (Sam) Mitchell or (Jordan) Lewis or someone like that.

"They've got such a good midfield that you can't go with everyone, so you have to pick your mark pretty carefully and play the game.

"Lewis had a big game on the weekend, and so did Mitchell, so there's a few guys there who are likely candidates."