Human highlights reels Liam Ryan and Nic Naitanui gave television editors some work to do containing their personal efforts to a 90 second news story when they excelled in West Coast 32-point victory over Hawthorn at Optus Stadium tonight.

'Flyin' Ryan took to the skies for three breathtaking marks, two of them in the first quarter, while Naitanui continued to build on an outstanding run of form with a season-high 16 hit outs to advantage as the Eagles won 12.9 (81) to 7.7 (49).

The Eagles consolidated their position in the top four with that workman-like victory against the pugnacious Hawks and set up the triumph with a sizzling first quarter.

They led by 22 points at the first break and were never headed from that point forward. However, the Hawks did not relent either and the battles around stoppages was both absorbing and bruising.

Aerial supremacy at both ends of the ground was the key as the Eagles posted their seventh successive victory.

While Hawthorn enjoyed a 48-42 inside 50 advantage, they looked more dangerous when probing the 50 metre arc as the home team’s forwards dominating the air.

Five of the Eagles' goals were from marks – two from Ryan and singles to Josh Kennedy, Oscar Allen and Jack Darling – as they capitalised on the opportunities that came their way.

At the other end of the ground, the band was back together and didn’t Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern enjoy that. Barrass and McGovern either marked or destroyed everything that floated in the air and if they didn’t rebound it themselves, Tom Cole, Jackson Nelson, Brad Sheppard or Shannon Hurn did.

The pressure the Eagles applied across the board stifled Hawthorn’s ability to generate any flow through the game as they worked harder for their goals.

Testimony to the Eagles intent in the opening half came through first-gamer Nic Reid, whose first involvement in the game was completed by a wonderful mark and conversion from Ryan.

Reid ran down Hawks speedster Jarman Impey at centre half-forward and then sent the ball deep to the top of the square.

Jarrod Brander, who received his opportunity when Yeo was withdrawn late, also clamped on four first half tackles, to combine with the likes of Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Dom Sheed to give the Eagles midfield ascendancy.

A couple of early marks and goals to Kennedy and the lead was extended out to beyond 40 points, but the Hawks refused to yield and clawed their way back to with 29 points after Conor Glass converted from about 20 metres.

The Eagles responded again and after a three-year break between goals was broken last week against Carlton, veteran defender Brad Sheppard kicked his second goal in as many weeks, converting a set shot from about 45 metres after winning a free kick when James Worpel was deemed holding the ball.

Worpel tried to fend Sheppard off, but he was having none of it and stuck a great tackle.

It was an intense quarter, with some great contested work from both sides.

The Eagles cause was aided by the work of Naitanui, who had a season high 14 hit-outs to advantage by three-quarter time when the Eagles led 11.7 (73) to 5.6 (36).        

West Coast Eagles          3.4         6.5              11.7       12.9       (81)
Hawthorn                         0.0         2.3                5.6         7.7       (49)

GOALS

West Coast Eagles: Kennedy, Ryan 3; Darling 2; Sheppard, Cripps, Reid, Allan.

Hawthorn: Gunston 2; Shiels, Worpel, O’Brien, Glass, Burgoyne.

BEST

West Coast Eagles: Ryan, Naitanui, Barrass, Gaff, Kennedy, Darling, Sheppard, McGovern.

Hawthorn: Mitchell, O’Meara, Worpel, Glass, Shiels, Day.