IT WAS an inaccurate and often wasteful Hawthorn team that still managed to secure a 66-point win over Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night.

It could have been much worse for the Demons with the Hawks kicking 15.25 (115) to the Demons' 6.13 (49).

The Demons won the first quarter and drew level in the third term but a one-sided second quarter broke them.

Melbourne had two scoring shots to Hawthorn's 12 and were only let off by the Hawks' poor conversion in front of goal.

Their disposal may not have been as inefficient as the Hawks but that was simply because they didn't have enough time with the ball. In fact they only had a paltry 259 touches for the night.

Melbourne did jump out of the blocks, with three first-quarter goals to Mitch Clark to give them the lead. But in 47 minutes of football from late in the first quarter to mid-way through the third quarter, the Hawks managed to kick nine goals to Melbourne's eight behinds.

Demons coach Mark Neeld said while he was conscious of being seemingly obsessed with winning contested possession, it was still a major problem for his team.

"It was near even in the first quarter and it was even in the third. We split that and people ask me 'what about the uncontested possession?' well I'm concerned by that but a little bit less," Neeld said.

"When you are coming in new and you are starting from scratch, you want to make sure the effort and contested possession is there so we took a little step backwards with that tonight I reckon."

Inaccuracy troubled both teams and it was little surprise that Lance Franklin was the main culprit for the Hawks. His recent wayward run in front of goals is becoming a significant problem and he finished with 3.7 to make his total over the past four weeks 9.22.

While the discrepancy on the scoreboard wasn't as great as it could have been, there were many telling factors pointing to the gulf between the two teams.

Whether it be contested possessions (157-105), clearances (40-22) or inside 50s (64-36), the Hawks had it all over their opponents.

Melbourne led the tackle count 67-49, but again that figure could be skewed by the fact the ball was in Hawthorn hands for much of the night.

Liam Shiels was Hawthorn's No.1 midfielder while Sam Mitchell gradually improved while wearing the close tag of Jordie McKenzie.

Shiels had a hand in plenty of stoppages and continued his development as one of the Hawks' better players.

The most disappointing aspect of Melbourne's night was its inability to link up possessions and penetrate.

Kicking out from goal was troublesome all night and the Demons have to work out how to get the ball from one end to the other as too often the ball would quickly come back.

Hawthorn's triumph was tempered by a late injury to Michael Osborne, who hyper-extended his left knee after coming on as a substitute in the fourth quarter.

Osborne will undergo scans early next week and Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said the initial diagnosis leant towards a long-term injury.

"We're disappointed for 'Os', because he's an important player to our footy club, and to our side.

"We've just got to deal with it if it's the worst case scenario, but hopefully it won't be too bad."

HAWTHORN          3.3   3.5    5.11   15.25   (115)                  
MELBOURNE        2.6   8.12    10.18   6.13   (49)          
 
GOALS
Melbourne: Clark 3, Howe, McKenzie, Magner
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Puopolo 2, Young 2, Breust, Hale, Rioli, Roughead, Savage, Smith, Lewis, Suckling
 
BEST
Melbourne: Clark, Grimes, McKenzie, Bartram
Hawthorn: Shiels, Birchall, Sewell, Hale, Whitecross, Roughead
 
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Hawthorn: Osborne (knee)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Matthew Bate replaced Jack Fitzpatrick in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Michael Osborne replaced Cyril Rioli in the fourth quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Rosebury, Findlay, Bannister
 
Official crowd: 36,430 at the MCG

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