After leading by just five points at three-quarter time, the Bulldogs kicked clear in the final term thanks to a remarkable four-goal quarter from spearhead Barry Hall who finished the game with six.
The Hawks kicked the last two majors of the match, but it was too little, too late. They lost 14.16 (100) to 12.12 (84).
The modern trend of high interchange rotations took a hit with both sides were severely hampered by injury from early in the game.
Bulldog Ryan Hargrave (neck) and Hawk Josh Gibson (hamstring) had clocked out in the first ten minutes of the game. The Dogs lost another defender when Tom Williams came from the ground to have his knee checked and Liam Picken also came off with an ankle injury.
But the worst of the lot came with minutes remaining in the first half when Hawthorn onballer Jordan Lewis was knocked senseless backing back into a marking contest with Dog Jarrod Harbrow.
Lewis was stretchered off and the Bulldogs kicked a valuable goal to go into the main break with the lead.
The hard-nut midfielder miraculously returned to the field, but failed to inspire his team in what was a poor final term for the Hawks.
Ryan Griffen was one of the Bulldogs’ best for the game, gathering 12 touches in a dominant third term.
Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross put in their usual consistent performances in the midfield for the Bulldogs, while Cyril Rioli’s agility and evasiveness gave Hawthorn plenty of spark.
Luke Hodge relished his familiar role as a sweeper across half-back and was a driving factor for the Hawks.
Jarryd Roughead was inaccurate in front of goal but he was his side’s most effective forward finishing with four goals.
Lance Franklin was in the unfamiliar role of second-fiddle and finished goalless, but in his defence he did push up to lend a hand to the defenders.
The Bulldogs got plenty of it in the third term but couldn’t finish in front of goal, kicking nine behinds in a row before Barry Hall broke the drought at the 28-minute mark.
He went on to extinguish Hawthorn's chances in the final term and drag the Dogs to their second win for the season. The Hawks have just one win on the board from three matches, and face Collingwood next week in what looms as the match of the round.
Western Bulldogs 2.4 6.5 8.14 14.16 (100)
Hawthorn 3.3 5.7 8.9 12.12 (84)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Hall 6, Murphy 2, Harbrow, Giansiracusa, Higgins, Griffen, Hahn, Hill
Hawthorn: Rioli 4, Roughead 4, Ellis, Renouf, Morton, Hodge
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Gilbee, Boyd, Hall, Cooney, Minson, Harbrow, Cross
Hawthorn: Rioli, Hodge, Mitchell, Roughead, Lewis
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Hargrave (neck), Picken (ankle), Akermanis (hamstring)
Hawthorn: Gibson (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Farmer, Rosebury
Official crowd: 35,933 at Etihad Stadium
