FACING a smarting Hawthorn always loomed as a rugged task, but if Richmond was looking for an opportunity to regain equilibrium on Friday night after another tumultuous week, this was it.
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The Hawks, already without Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead and James Frawley, were further cruelled when Sam Mitchell, averaging 34 disposals per game, was a late withdrawal with what football manager Chris Fagan said was "some soreness with a corked calf".
It was the first time Alastair Clarkson had been without Mitchell, Hodge and Roughead for the same game since he began in 2005.
But true to the season the Tigers are having, they were unable to capitalise on this, falling to a 46-point loss in front of a relatively modest attendance of 49,678.
Their sixth-straight defeat was another dagger in their finals hopes, and will lead to another week of negative headlines.
For the Hawks, defender of three-straight flags, they reinforced they aren't yet ready to yield. Stung by their 75-point loss to the Giants, their heaviest defeat in seven years, the Hawks responded when the game was truly in the balance – and again find themselves well placed to push for a top-four berth after posting their highest score of the year.
Leading by nine points at three-quarter-time, the Hawks lifted in the contest and on the outside, sparking a nine-goals-to-three final term. Luke Breust completed a fine evening with six goals, while Josh Gibson was a match-winner in defence, largely holding Jack Riewoldt and helping teammates at every opportunity.
Liam Shiels led the last-quarter run before a stunning left-foot set-shot snap by the emerging James Sicily. In a game when the Hawks had the unfamiliar names of Kieran Lovell, Daniel Howe, Sicily and debutant Kaiden Brand running around, it appears their next generation is in good hands.
Jordan Lewis and Shaun Burgoyne also lifted, and Isaac Smith, rebounding from an 11-disposal effort against the Giants, all but iced the win with a running goal from outside 50 metres.
He was jubilant, but it could easily have been a sigh of relief, for the Tigers had their opportunities and, for most of the night, a clear advantages in contested possessions and clearances.
But the Hawks know how to find a way to win, their spirit and belief something statistics cannot define.
"We controlled the ball and our defensive game picked up in the second half," Lewis said.
"We know within the four walls of the club we probably haven't been playing our best football ... it seems like tonight we hit our straps."
Dustin Martin, as he did against Port Adelaide, was in superb touch for the Tigers, who had their own selection issues, missing skipper Trent Cotchin and defender Alex Rance. However, Martin did not have enough support, with Bachar Houli and Ben Griffiths two teammates who had a dirty evening.
This was a contest which was an example of modern momentum football, with goals coming in clutches – and coaches growing increasingly agitated.
Again under pressure after trailing by 15 points at half-time, the Tigers responded, enjoying 64 per cent of the play inside their forward half through the opening 10 minutes.
The Hawks made uncharacteristic mistakes. Taylor Duryea, Grant Birchall and even Gibson were sloppy with their ball use from the defensive 50. Gibson's kick across ground was intercepted by Anthony Miles, who duly converted. After a promising start, Lewis, Smith and Hill disappeared briefly from the action, and the Hawks suffered.
What did the champions have left? Well, plenty.
Lewis coaxed every inch of power from his left leg to convert a set shot from 50 metres and when Puopolo pounced on a loose ball, the Hawks regained the lead. When Ceglar pushed forward, marked and goalled inside the final minute before three-quarter-time, the challenge, once again, was before the Tigers.
Having dropped Ivan Maric, the Tigers gave Shaun Hampson the responsibility in the ruck, and he and Ben McEvoy and Jonathon Ceglar would largely nullify each other in terms of tap work. But it was in the contest where the Tigers had the early advantage – something the Hawks wrestled away as the match unfolded.
In an entertaining first half, the Tigers had three straight, the Hawks responded with six (the first three to a sprightly Breust). The Tigers then rebounded with three to regain the lead before the Hawks steadied to land three blows in the shadows of half-time to enjoy a 15-point break.
