Free-scoring Hawks dent Eagles' AFLW finals hopes

Hawthorn's Aileen Gilroy kicked three goals in the crushing win over West Coast. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Hawthorn's AFLW "hokball" has shot them to top spot after they belted West Coast by 11 goals.

The free-scoring Hawks dominated after quarter-time on Saturday at home in suburban Frankston, mauling the Eagles 11.8 (74) to 1.2 (8).

It was five points short of Hawthorn's highest score, kicked in round five against Geelong, and the equal third-lowest score for West Coast.

Just as the Hawks lit up the AFL late in the season with "hokball", a high-octane style of play with rapid ball movement and equally energetic celebrations, their women are doing the same under new coach Daniel Webster.

Captain Emily Bates, who starred with 22 disposals and two goals, was rapt with how they played in their fourth straight win.

Emily Bates
Captain Emily Bates says Hawthorn played some "hokball" in their big AFLW win over West Coast.

"I'm really proud of the group - just being able to put more speed on the ball, play our way," she said.

"It was good to play more our brand, a bit of hokball."

The Hawks continue to show they are premiership contenders after finishing 15th and 16th in their first two AFLW seasons.

The Hawks have gone top of the ladder, ahead of Brisbane on percentage and having played one game more than North Melbourne, who host Sydney in Hobart on Sunday.

But the heavy loss has put a dent in West Coast's finals hopes.

The Eagles are 10th, level on points with eighth-placed St Kilda, but their low percentage effectively puts them a game behind.

But there could be match-review trouble for Hawthorn, after two incidents late in the game as tempers flared.

First, Eagles star Jess Hosking had to leave the field when she was caught high and then dumped in a fierce tackle from Jess Vukic.

West Coast's Jess Hosking.
West Coast's Jess Hosking left the field after being injured in a fierce tackle.

As a 50m penalty was paid against the Hawks, there was some push-and-shove off the ball between Hawthorn's Ainslie Kemp and West Coast forward Kellie Gibson.

Kemp floored Gibson with a push to the ribs and the Eagles player was also forced off the ground.

Aileen Gilroy kicked the first goal of the game in the opening minute and her booming shot after the final siren gave her three for the match.

Eliza West also starred for the Hawks, while Charlotte Thomas and Beth Schilling worked hard on a dirty day for the Eagles.

It is the low point in a strong season for the Eagles under new coach Daisy Pearce.

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