THE WESTERN Bulldogs have suffered a nail-biting three-point loss to Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night.

In a match that was neck and neck all night, the Hawks only sealed the win in the final second when Xavier Ellis marked the ball at the top of the goal square as it was heading towards the Bulldogs' goal.

Easton Wood had launched a long bomb on the run but Ellis, playing behind Ryan Griffen, had his attempt under control.

The Hawks held on to win a memorable match, 12.7 (79) to 11.10 (76).

Hawthorn has now won seven in a row to be equal on wins with the fifth-placed Bulldogs.

Luke Hodge (28 disposals, two goals) and his skipper Sam Mitchell (28 touches) led their team superbly, the pair each booting a goal, winning plenty of the footy and putting their bodies on the line in the nail-biting final term.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson paid tribute to his leaders in what was a tough night for both sides.

“They [Hodge and Mitchell] were outstanding for the bulk of the night but particularly late when the game had to be won, they were sensational for us,” Clarkson said after the match.

“It was just a genuinely great contest from two sides who were really willing and hard at it.

“We were just really fortunate in the way the game unfolded; the lead changed a lot and we were just fortunate that at the end we were in front at the right time.”

While the Hawks’ leaders stood up, Western Bulldogs midfielder Matthew Boyd (35 possessions, 18 contested) was equally courageous, while Robert Murphy was all class both in defence and when switched into attack late.

Brian Lake was also a tower of strength despite Lance Franklin booting three important goals.

It was a taxing game for both sides in which the biggest margin was just 12 points.

There was also plenty of bumps and bruises, with the match likely to have repercussions for the Bulldogs.

Sam Reid, playing his first senior match of the year, battled on and played out most of the game despite injuring both shoulders. However his immediate future looks in doubt, as does that of ruckman Will Minson who rolled an ankle.

That didn’t help the Dogs’ cause on night when both teams needed all hands on deck.

The Bulldogs led by a goal at quarter time, two points at half time and just five at the last change. But they couldn’t pinch that vital break needed that perhaps may have broken the Hawks’ spirit.

After a scrap for three quarters where goals were hard to come by and often traded, blow for blow, the match came down to who wanted it more.

Neither side had been able to gain any ascendancy throughout the night, and neither was able to find a clear avenue to goal.

Franklin booted two in the second term and looked a threat but Lake had him largely covered in an intriguing duel.

The Bulldogs had Daniel Giansiracusa (two goals), Grant (two) and Barry Hall (two), although the burly forward had a pretty forgettable night.

The Bulldogs led by eight points early in the final term - their biggest lead of the night - before Mitchell’s left-foot snap 10 minutes in gave Hawthorn the lead.

The lead twice changed hands again but then with just four minutes remaining in the match, following some desperate tackling from Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne moments earlier, Franklin escaped Lake’s attention to boot what ultimately turned out to be the match-sealing goal.

His long bomb extended the lead to nine points and with only a few minutes left the Hawks looked home.

Bulldog Jarrad Grant booted a goal - following a 50m penalty - with just 35 seconds remaining to again breathe life into the game.

However time ran out for the Dogs, giving Hawthorn its biggest scalp of 2010.

Eade believed his team blew its chances.

“We just lost it with our inside 50s, no doubt,” Eade said.

“Every stat, except tackling, we won. Contested ball, etc but we just didn’t make use of the ball going inside 50. I thought our use of the ball was substandard, it was poor and it cost us in the end.”

The Bulldogs have nine days to regroup before facing Carlton at Etihad Stadium, while the Hawks face Geelong at the MCG next Saturday afternoon in what looms as the match of the round.

Hawthorn  3.1  7.1  8.6  12.7 (79)
Western Bulldogs  4.1  7.3  9.5  11.10 (76)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Rioli 2, Roughead 2, Hodge 2, Mitchell, Muston, Renouf
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 2, Hall 2, Grant 2, Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Johnson, Murphy

BEST
Hawthorn: Hodge, Stratton, Rioli, Mitchell, Birchall, Roughead, Franklin
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Lake, Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Harbrow, Cross, Murphy

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Ladson (virus) replaced by Peterson
Western Bulldogs: Reid (dislocated both shoulders), Minson (ankle ligament), Johnson (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Farmer

Official crowd: 47,454 at MCG

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.