Bruce McAvaney was in no doubt: this was the best game of the season.

And there was a fair bit to support the Channel Seven oracle's case. The biggest lead of the night was 12 points, the scores were tied up nine times, and the Bulldogs led by a goal at quarter time, two points at half time and just five at the last change. On top of that, there were dazzling displays of individual brilliance and huge physical clashes.

In the end it was the Hawks, trailing by three points late in the match, who rallied with goals to their two leaders, Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge, capped off by a Buddy Franklin special that gave them a win by three points.

But even in the dying seconds, there was a chance the Dogs could have pinched a win. The ball was roosted deep into their forward line by Easton Wood when the final siren went.

The Bulldogs' inability to seal these close matches - the St Kilda match in Round x, is another classic example - will haunt coach Rodney Eade today.

For they had their chances early in the final quarter, but squandered all of them, while at the other end the Hawks were far more efficient. They kicked 4.1 for the term - against the Dogs' 2.5 - and that was about the difference in the end.

The Bulldogs are now on 32 premiership points for the season and, if Fremantle and Collingwood win this weekend as expected, they'll find themselves eight points adrift of a berth in the top four.

Hawthorn, meanwhile, have built an unstoppable momentum, this being their seventh win in a row - the longest streak this season. And having looked dead and buried two months ago, Alastair Clarkson's men will now be eyeing that double-chance in the top four.

Hodge, with 28 disposals and two goals, and his skipper Mitchell led their team superbly. Cyril Rioli was magical, and a great provider for Franklin.

Western Bulldogs midfielder Matthew Boyd (35 possessions, 18 contested) was equally courageous, while Robert Murphy was all class both in defence and when switched into attack late.

Brian Lake was also a tower of strength in defence, taking 18 marks, many of them contested, despite Lance Franklin booting three important goals.

After seeing 11 50-metre penalties handed out by the umpires in Thursday night's game, the three whistlblowers were in an equally zealous mood tonight - especially Stephen McBurney - and the most minor infractions were penalized with a 50.

Michael Osborne flew for a mark late in the third quarter, and nearly claimed a speccy, but was ruled by McBurney to have made an ‘unrealistic leap' and penalized.

But while the Hawks were on the wrong end of the free-kick count, and their fans were vocal in their whingeing, all that will be forgotten tonight as they celebrate their best win of the year - a win whose importance was illustrated by Clarkson's manic grin and victory dance on the arena straight after the final siren.