There was always going to be at least one legend leaving Etihad Stadium unhappy on Friday night, and it turned out to be a sad exit for Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd as the Western Bulldogs went down to Luke Hodge's Hawthorn 15.9 (99) to 13.12 (90).

Full match coverage and stats

The battle of retiring legends kept the crowd of 48,090 in full voice throughout a match played with plenty of passion, if not always at the highest level of skill.

Hodge, Murphy and Boyd all went out as genuine contributors, Boyd in particular having a strong influence on the game with 33 disposals and a rare goal.

But it was Jarryd Roughead's effort in his good mate's last game that was the difference between the two teams, the Hawks skipper finishing the match with five goals.

While they celebrated the past, the future was also on show for the Hawks as Jaeger O'Meara produced a performance the club will hope can be a springboard into a healthy and productive 2018.

He finished with 25 possessions and five clearances in his 50th game, laying a massive 11 tackles and playing in his first win since round 19, 2014.

The other positive for the victors was the form of youngster Harry Morrison, who racked up 21 possessions in an impressive debut.

For Hawthorn the night was all about Hodge, however, and he proved he was finishing with fuel in the tank, playing his customary general role at half-back, barking instructions to the end and putting himself where he was needed most.

As the Bulldogs surged in the final minutes he interjected with a crucial spoil, and was able to finish the match with the crowd of 48,090 chanting his name.

With little on the line, it was a free-wheeling contest that lacked intensity for the first quarter as both teams feasted on uncontested possessions and left spare players behind the ball. 

Coach Luke Beveridge appeared to be in experiment mode, lining up for centre bounces without wingmen and starting two loose players in defence.

A jumper punch from Blake Hardwick on Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli set off a scuffle halfway through the second term, breathing some life into the clash, but it wasn't enough to sustain the disappointing Dogs.

Boyd was the best of the retiring class, finishing with 33 possessions, 12 marks and a goal in his last game.

The Bulldogs were also well served by Jack Macrae (33 and six inside 50s) and Liam Picken (three goals), with Toby McLean (26 and six tackles) also working hard all night. 

HAWTHORN                           5.3   9.5      12.6   15.9   (99)          
WESTERN BULLDOGS            4.2   7.4      10.7   13.12   (90)                   

GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 5, Smith 3, Puopolo 3, Burgoyne, Sicily, Schoenmakers, O'Brien
Western Bulldogs: Picken 3, Hunter 2, Dale 2, Campbell, Murphy, Boyd, Dahlhaus, Liberatore, McLean 

BEST 
Hawthorn: Roughead, McEvoy, Sicily, Smith, Puopolo, Mitchell, O'Meara
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, McLean, Boyd, Picken, Bontempelli, Hunter 

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Dalgleish, Stevic

Official crowd: 48,090 at Etihad Stadium