A few observations following Hawthorn's 65-point thumping of Essendon at the MCG on Friday night.

1. Hawthorn has unashamedly borrowed from the Collingwood recipe book, not so much style of play, but turning the side over to the youth. A growing injury list at Waverley Park partly dictated it, but so much of the spark and pizazz about the Hawks this year has been due to the injection of youth - Shane Savage, Matt Suckling, Liam Shiels, Paul Puopolo, Kyle Cheney, Luke Bruest, Jordan Lisle and Isaac Smith, who is rapidly becoming one of this writer's favourite Hawthorn players. It worked a treat for Collingwood as we know in footy, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

2. The worry for Hawthorn pre-match was going to be where the goals would come from. 23 goals and 12 goalkickers later, that obviously wasn't an issue. And with Buddy Franklion watching contentedly from the stands. He said pre-game on SEN that the game he most wants to play in this year is against Collingwood. He gets that chance next Sunday in what will be a Sunday afternoon blockbuster at the MCG.

3. Rohan Connolly, writing in The Age, named six Carlton players in his mid-season All Australian team last week. Here are a few Hawks who also deserve some consideration, apart from the obvious Franklin: Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson and Grant Birchall.

4. For the second time in as many matches against the Bombers, the Hawks made Dustin Fletcher accountable and unable to freewheel out of the backline. Last year it was Beau Muston, this year it was Brendan Whitecross. Not sure why they don't do the same with Geelong's Matthew Scarlett.

5. The Hawks are unquestionably top-four material, but injuries will cruel their premiership hopes. If Cyril Rioli has done his hamstring for the second time this year, the Hawks might not see him again until close to the finals. Brad Sewell has been really good this year, part of great midfield, but he was off by half-time with a knee injury. The curse of the AFL Record (Sewell is on this week's cover) strikes again.

6. As for the Bombers, that incredible stroke of misfortune back in round four, when they lost Courtenay Dempsey and Jason Winderlich to season-ending knee injuries within minutes of each other, is now starting to bite. The Bombers lack pace and are really exposed on the larger grounds. The pre-match selections of both Brent Prismall and Andrew Welsh raised eyebrows and they contributed very little.

7. Paddy Ryder is going through the same sort of funk as Nick Riewoldt.

8. The TV footage of the Essendon coaches box was fascinating. If you didn't know better, you would think Mark Thompson was in charge. Maybe he is. But he was the one holding forth as the Bombers fell into disarray in the second quarter and doing the interview at half-time. At the very least, we can say that James Hird is a senior coach still wearing his 'L' plates.