Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson relished a return to top form for Brad Sewell and Shaun Burgoyne's best game for the club as they notched their biggest win of the AFL season against a limp Brisbane in Launceston.

Extraordinary midfield dominance set up Saturday's 17.16 (118) to 7.1 (43) victory, with only the Lions' accurate shooting for goal preventing a blowout bigger than the 75-point margin.

It gave the Hawks eight wins in nine rounds and an increasingly firm hold on a finals berth, while Brisbane have lost 11 of their past 12, with coach Michael Voss saying their main goal for the rest of the year was restoring lost pride.

Sewell, initially left out of the Hawks' side for what would have been his first axing in five years, won a reprieve as the late inclusion for Lance Franklin, who was ruled out on Friday with an ankle sprain.

The 2007 best and fairest made it count, with 39 touches, five clearances and six tackles, to be a key part of a dominant midfield machine.

"Sewelly was terrific and that's what we were after from him, to hunt the ball like he did," Clarkson said.

"He generated a lot of ball from stoppages and in congestion and that's when he's playing his best footy."

Luke Hodge, Burgoyne and Mitchell were all superb, together with Sewell amassing 143 disposals and 25 clearances, the Hawks having the top seven possession-winners on the ground and entering their attacking 50m arc 64 times to Brisbane's 25.

Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead kicked four goals to ensure a big score in Franklin's absence.

After the Hawks started the season with just one fit ruckman - Brent Renouf - and with Mitchell, Sewell and Burgoyne all on the injury list, among many others, they are now in great shape.

Former Port Adelaide star Burgoyne, blighted by knee, face and hamstring injuries early in his first season with the Hawks, has steadily gained form and showcased his ability to break from midfield congestion and quality ball use on Saturday.

He was probably only shaded by Brownlow Medal fancy Hodge for best afield.

"He's played eight or nine games with us, so he's still finding his way, but I thought today was a real big step in the right direction," Clarkson said.

Newfound ruck depth is also pleasing the coach, with Wayde Skipper giving fine support to Renouf, while Simon Taylor will add to selection pressure as he plays his second VFL game back from a broken leg on Sunday.

With Franklin expected back for Friday night's big Etihad Stadium clash with St Kilda, the Hawks will be almost full strength, with Rick Ladson and Rhan Hooper the only exceptions.

While Hawthorn surge, Voss admitted his players were disheartened by their inability to emerge from a slump.

"That forlorn look on their faces in the changerooms at the moment is probably more the fact that they're working pretty hard, but we're not getting the reward," he said.

Facing Geelong on the rebound at Skilled Stadium next Saturday will not help their mood, but Voss said they could not afford to let their season fade away and start planning for next year.

"We're not in that stage, we're in a stage where we've got to get a bit of respect back, get back a little bit of pride in us as a team, that's where we're at," Voss said.

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