DESPITE a focus on old-fashioned training methods during the week, the Western Bulldogs have been unable to recapture their best form, suffering a 29-point loss to Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Coach Rodney Eade oversaw a week of training that included a 6am beach session and a direction to bring their mouthguards to the track, but it didn't achieve their ultimate goal as the Bulldogs suffered a 13.13 (91) to 9.8 (62) loss.

Alastair Clarkson's in-form team steadily built a comfortable lead during the opening two-and-a-half quarters by using short, precise kicking to control possession as they eased to a 46-point lead at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.

The Bulldogs showed fight in kicking four consecutive goals from midway through the third quarter to early in the final term to bring the margin within four straight kicks, but Hawthorn steadied to claim a comfortable victory.

Influential players
Daniel Giansiracusa was lively throughout his 200th match, booting three goals, and Ryan Griffen (31 disposals) worked hard through the midfield.

Tom Williams, normally a defender, was tried forward and showed promising signs in a two-goal performance.

What the coach said
Rodney Eade (Western Bulldogs)
"I think morale has actually been pretty good but we just have to keep presenting and working hard. That's been the message and if they're working hard you have to give them a pat on the back, but obviously football-wise, there's a lot of areas we need to work on.

"The second half was extremely pleasing. The endeavour and effort was good, but we have long a way to go. We could have dropped our heads in the second half [after last week's effort] and turned it in, but at least the effort and endeavour was there."

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd ($464,900) didn't disappoint his many Dream Team admirers with a typically unassuming 119-point display to be his team's top-scorer.

Next four
Western Bulldogs: A tough ask awaits next Saturday against the unbeaten Geelong at its Skilled Stadium fortress, before clashes with St Kilda (ES), Adelaide (ES) and Gold Coast (MS).

Quarter by quarter summary

First quarter
Bulldogs fans came to Etihad Stadium hoping for signs their team would be 'on' after their 123-point belting at the hands of West Coast last week. And there were some initial good signs, with a couple of early clearances and the first goal of the game to Ryan Griffen. But then the Hawks kicked into gear and for 10 minutes from the five-minute mark, the ball was almost exclusively in Hawthorn's half of the ground. The Hawks booted three goals in that time, through Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Lance Franklin, the last of which came after Brian Lake attempted to swat the ball through for a behind, only with not enough 'oomph' and just enough space for Franklin to soccer the ball through. Cyril Rioli kicked his first goal and Franklin his second, with a snap from Daniel Giansiracusa, playing his 200th game, keeping the home team in touch. The Hawks led by 18 points at the first change and with a big advantage in all the key stats, held a clear ascendancy. The only sour note for the Hawks was an ankle injury to Chance Bateman, which saw him subbed from the ground. Luke Bruest was his replacement.

Second quarter
Hawthorn strengthened its grip on the match with three goals to one in the second term to take a 32-point lead into the half-time break. The Hawks extended their lead almost immediately after Rioli grabbed the ball, sold the dummy and speared the lace-out pass to Hodge who duly marked and kicked a goal. Tom Williams snapped a nice reply for the Bulldogs after five minutes, but the Hawks had control of the stoppages throughout and further goals to Franklin and Mitchell gave the side a comfortable buffer. The Bulldogs did enjoy a consolation win at one stoppage, where Lake locked horns with old adversary Franklin and won a free kick for holding the ball. Lake spent the entire match in the backline, primarily matched up on Jarryd Roughead.

Third quarter
The Bulldogs claimed a small victory in the third term, forcing the Hawks into a spell of tempo footy after three consecutive goals by the home team bridged the gap from 47 points to 29. A blow-out looked likely after goals to Roughead and Brent Guerra, but another snap to Williams, followed by a fine set shot from Shaun Higgins and then a goal on the run from Giansiracusa, brought the game back to life. It should be noted the Western Bulldogs got themselves back in the game after spearhead Barry Hall was subbed from the game after a lacklustre display. The Hawks controlled the last 10 minutes, not adding any goals but playing the game on their terms once again, and looked a safe bet with a 29-point lead at the final change.

Fourth quarter
Thirty minutes of junk-time is the best description of the final quarter. It started brightly with a fine overhead mark to Giansiracusa, who got the sit 40m out and duly converted. That made it four straight to the Bulldogs and the margin was back to 23 points. But a long goal from Guerra, his second of the match, took the margin back to five goals and it was goal for goal from there. Griffen, who was the best for the Bulldogs, left the ground with a corked thigh, but soon returned. Osborne and Roughead added further goals for the Hawks, thanks to some magic first from Rioli and then Franklin, and it was hard to escape the sneaking feeling that the Hawks didn't get out of second gear for most of the second half.

Western Bulldogs       2.3    3.5    6.6      9.8     (62)
Hawthorn                    5.3    8.7   10.11  13.13  (91)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Williams 2, Higgins, Griffen, Sherman, Boyd
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Mitchell 2, Hodge 2, Guerra 2, Roughead 2, Rioli, Osborne

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Murphy, Giansiracusa, Williams, Boyd, Morris
Hawthorn: Hodge, Gibson, Guerra, Mitchell, Birchall, Roughead, Puopolo, Franklin

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Easton Wood (nose), Sam Reid (hamstring), Ryan Hargrave (foot soreness) replaced in selected side by Brian Lake, Brodie Moles (illness) replaced in selected side by Lindsay Gilbee.
Hawthorn: Chance Bateman (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Barry Hall replaced by Josh Hill in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Chance Bateman (ankle) replaced by Luke Bruest in the first quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ritchie, Stevic, Stewart

Official crowd: 30,747 at Etihad Stadium

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