Melbourne captain David Neitz broke his club's goal-kicking record, leading the Demons to a 75-point AFL belting of Hawthorn at the MCG.

Neitz kicked six for the game as Melbourne posted its fifth-straight win, 20.16 (136) to 9.7 (61).

The Demons kicked seven goals in the last quarter to smash the Hawks, who did not score after three-quarter time and were again exposed badly in defence.

Neitz took his career goals tally to 550 ahead of his testimonial dinner on Saturday night, now four more than club legend Norm Smith.

Melbourne fans gave him a standing ovation after he broke the record and again as he left the field in the last quarter.

Demons midfielder Travis Johnstone was best afield with another polished game that featured a match-high 31 possessions.

While Hawthorn pulled to within three goals early in the third term, it had lost some strong initial momentum with three woeful errors in the first term that proved costly.

There was plenty of niggle in the first quarter and defender Campbell Brown went too far by felling his opponent Aaron Davey off the ball.

Brown was strong for much of the game on the dangerous Davey, but that misplaced act of aggression gave Mark Jamar a 50m penalty and an easy goal.

Then Mark Williams did not stand the mark during a rare foray into defence, allowing Cameron Bruce to run on for another goal.

As Melbourne steadied, Hawks ruckman Peter Everitt gave away another 50m penalty to ensure Jeff White goalled.

Despite a goal late in the term to Ben Dixon, Hawthorn trailed by eight points at the first change and Melbourne now had the run of play.

The Demons kicked four goals to one in the second term, with the last goal of the half giving Neitz his third for the night and the club record.

The Hawks started the third quarter strongly, but by midway through the term the margin was back out to five goals.

Melbourne then ran over the top of Hawthorn in the last term.

Hawthorn's defence had no effective answer to Neitz as Danny Jacobs and rookie Zac Dawson struggled.

Midfielder Sam Mitchell and key forward Jarryd Roughead stood out on a dismal night for the Hawks.

After his next two matches, Neitz will also take the Melbourne games record from Robbie Flower, who currently holds it with 272.

The one sour note for the Demons came early in the last quarter, when Dawson's shoulder collected Russell Robertson.

The Melbourne forward, well-held by Hawks backman Joel Smith, was apparently groggy after the match amid speculation he had a jaw injury.

But the club reported no injuries post-match.

While coach Neale Daniher was animated at three-quarter time as he called on his players to do better in clearances, after the match he was full of praise.

"It was a good test of our maturity tonight ... maybe with us having four (wins), can you keep that hunger?" he said.

"The result showed that we could.

"I'm very happy for David Neitz, it's a pretty good effort (in) a club that's 150 years old and now he's our leading goalkicker, one (sic) away from the (games) record.

"I couldn't be more pleased as a coach, the team has good synergy between experience and youth, between hardness and run, between flair and dourness when it's required - just a really good mix at the moment."

Daniher also singled out full-back Nathan Carroll, who kept Williams quiet.

Next Sunday, Melbourne has probably the toughest test for a Melbourne-based team in the AFL - West Coast at Subiaco.

It was the Hawks' third straight loss and left them with a 4-4 record.

While he referred to "a couple of silly free kicks" in the first quarter, Hawthorn Alastair Clarkson was also frustrated by his team's inability to move the ball beyond half-forward in the second term.

He added the last quarter collapse underlined the vast difference in development between the two sides.

"We didn't cope well with the avalanche, but at the end of the day we're no under illusions where we are as a football club," Clarkson said.

"We know we have a long, long way to go - Melbourne on the other hand, they're a side that should expect to be playing ... finals footy and challenge for a premiership."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP