Hawthorn will win some AFL games this season on four-quarter team efforts and others solely on Lance Franklin magic.

The magician was needed for the Hawks' seven-point win over West Coast at Aurora Stadium on Saturday - Franklin waving his wand and donning his cape at the appropriate times to lift his side home in a thriller.

He booted six goals - three in a pressure final quarter - as Hawthorn ran out 10.12 (72) to 9.11 (65) winners.

It proved the difference as the Eagles launched a withering late burst to roll back a 26-point deficit going into time-on.

And it could be argued Franklin's magic proved the art of illusion for the Hawks - some smoke and mirrors to overcome a spirited and gritty West Coast performance.

The Eagles were outstanding and surprising - their tackling pressure clearly rattled the Hawks.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admitted as much, saying Franklin and midfielder Sam Mitchell, who had a 27-possession first half and ended with 37, swung the match.

"If we wouldn't have had those two boys today, we'd have been in a little bit of trouble to get the points," Clarkson said.

"The end was a little bit like the game. Despite us being up by four goals, I don't think we were a four-goal better side today.

"West Coast played particularly well and at different stages were a better side than us on the day."

After leading by 10 points at quarter-time, West Coast's wobbly early shooting for goal was their undoing.

They booted 4.9 in the first half and trailed the Hawks by a point at the long break, when they should have been clearly in front.

A neat 90-second cameo from Hawthorn midfielder Cyril Rioli in the second quarter to set up goals for Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis was a huge halftime help.

Enter Franklin, who added four second half goals.

His two early fourth quarter goals nudged the Hawks out to a lead which couldn't be reeled in despite the Eagles' late charge.

Forward Josh Kennedy booted two of his four goals in time-on, and the impressive Jack Darling kicked one to close the gap to seven points before the siren intervened.

The Hawks move to a 3-1 win-loss record for the season, while the Eagles are 2-2.

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