WEST COAST:        5.3   9.4   12.13   13.14   (92)HAWTHORN:           2.1   4.2     7.2    10.7     (67)

By MATTHEW BALMER

West Coast remain within reach of a top four berth after an impressive 25-point win over Hawthorn at Domain Stadium on last night.

Nearly 12 months ago Hawthorn came from behind to stun the Eagles in Perth, and there's no doubt that was on coach Adam Simpson's mind when the Hawks kicked three of the first four goals in the second half last night.

However, it seemed like the Eagles learned from the Round 19 loss and the pain of their big 46-point loss in the 2015 Grand Final, and they held on for a comfortable win.

The clash was crucial for the Eagles, and it kept their slim hope for the double chance alive.

 A home final would be a big advantage, with West Coast having lost just one game in Perth this season.

Five unanswered goals early in the contest opened up a comfortable 32-point lead at half-time for the home side, led by four first-half goals from forward Josh Kennedy.

Kennedy remains the red-hot favourite to take out the Coleman Medal, finishing the match with five goals in his pursuit of back-to-back Coleman Medals. He now has an eight-goal lead over Sydney Swans forward Lance "Buddy" Franklin.

With defender Ben Stratton missing through injury, the Hawks looked undersized in defence. They struggled to go one-on-one with their taller opponents, going down 13-7 for marks inside-50.

The Eagles were led well by 2015 Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis, who collected 29 disposals and laid eight tackles in an electric effort. 

Teammate Andrew Gaff also had a career-high 38 disposals.  He worked hard through the centre of the ground, leading an effort which saw the Hawks smashed in contested possessions 153-108.

Whenever Hawthorn went inside-50, it was Eagles tall Jeremy McGovern who intercepted the ball. He finished the contest with nine marks, showing his superb reading of the play  in the defensive 50.

Luke Hodge finished with 28 disposals for the travelling team, while Sam Mitchell was well held to 22 disposals by Eagles midfielder Mark Hutchings.

Both sides lost their first choice ruckman during the contest, with Jonathon Ceglar (Hawthorn) and Nic Naitanui (West Coast) suffering knee injuries in separate incidents in the third quarter. Neither returned after leaving the ground and scans will determine what part they play in their sides' remaining games for the season.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was hopeful post game that Ceglar’s injury wasn’t season-ending.

“We’re hoping for the best but it looks pretty serious … we’re crossing our fingers it wasn’t an ACL,” Clarkson said. 

“We are proud of our group that they didn’t turn their toes up. It wasn’t our night tonight; West Coast were very clean.”

Like Clarkson, West Coast coach Simpson was fearful of the outcome of scans on Naitanui.

“We fear for the worst and hope for the best. But we’ll find out soon,” Simpson said.

The Eagles will travel to Adelaide for the last game of the home and away season next Friday night, while Hawthorn will have a nine-day break before a match against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

 THE WRAP-UPGOALSWest Coast: Kennedy 5; Darling 3; LeCras 2; Jetta; Yeo; ShueyHawthorn: Gunston 2; Sicily 2; Burgoyne 2; Breust; Puopolo; Lewis; Whitecross BESTWest Coast:  Gaff, Priddis, Kennedy, McGovern, Mastern, HutchingsHawthorn:  Hodge, Lewis, Burgoyne, Sicily, Birchall, SmithEagles West CoastINJURIESWest Coast:  Nic Naitanui (knee)Hawthorn:  Will Langford (illness) replaced in selected side by James Sicily, Jonathon Ceglar (knee) REPORTS: None UMPIRES: Dean Margetts, Mathew Nicholls, Shane McInerney OFFICIAL CROWD: 38,581 at Domain Stadium