Richmond coach Terry Wallace claimed Hawthorn had hit a new high point and were the best-drilled AFL team he had come across after the Hawks' 12-point win at the MCG.

Wallace said the Hawks' effectiveness at having the game played on their terms was "next generation" football and that their zone structures so strong that at times he wanted Hawthorn to goal to release the shackles.

Hawthorn overcame bad finishing, which included 1.7 to star forward Lance Franklin, to extend their perfect start to six wins with the 14.22 (106) to 15.4 (94) win.

Jarryd Roughead again turned Richmond's bogy man by booting 5.3 while Franklin had the yips, Luke Hodge starred in the midfield and Cyril Rioli dazzled the crowd of 46,076 with what could be goal of the year.

Although Hawthorn's wastefulness nearly cost them, Wallace said the fact so much of the game was played in the Hawks' half of the ground meant Richmond was powerless to change the match.

Although reigning premier Geelong also have won all six games this season, Wallace felt Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson had transformed his side into the best-drilled unit in the competition in terms of following their game plan.

"Hawthorn play a different style of game than nearly any other side in the competition," Wallace said.

"They're the best-drilled team that I've seen probably in the last six or seven years, since Sydney played a different style to everyone else.

"Hawthorn's taken the game to another level and that's credit to the coaching staff and credit to the playing group, they way they do it."

Wallace admitted he was fascinated by how Hawthorn were able to dictate terms so comprehensively.

"It's the next generation of footy and no wonder he (Clarkson) wants to have lock-out (training) sessions because he's doing things that other people aren't doing at the moment," he said.

"In straight style and sticking fat to what is your game structure, I don't think I've seen a side do it any better than Hawthorn, ever."

Although Richmond clogged Hawthorn's forward line and forced the Hawks to shoot at goal from out wide, their string of misses meant the ball was locked in their forward line for long periods.

When Richmond did break out of defence, they constantly encountered a brown and gold wall.

Richmond had more of the ball but became handball-happy, and aside from the magnificent Matthew Richardson, their top possession-winners all handballed more than they kicked.

Wallace was pleased his side hung in, but admitted at times he wanted Hawthorn to score a goal so the ball went back to the middle instead of staying deep in the Hawks' attack.

"But they'd kick a point and we'd get stuck in that rolling zone that they set up that was making it more difficult for us to get our inside-50s because we were starting from so far back," he said.

"It might sound strange, but there were times when we wanted them to kick one so we could get back to the middle and start again."

Clarkson said Hawthorn could have opened the game up early had they not missed seven shots in the first quarter, and also gave the opposition credit.

"They hung in there and got their nose in front in the third quarter, so it was good for us to rebound, take control of the game again and finish up winning," he said.

Richardson booted four goals in a tireless game from the wing and finished with 27 disposals and 13 marks.

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