An efficient Hawthorn shrugged aside the absence of several first-choice players to thrash a limp Essendon 23.8 (146) to 12.9 (81) in Friday night's AFL clash at the MCG.

The stunning 65-point win, enhanced by the superb performances of several of the Hawks' youngsters, sets up a bumper meeting with Collingwood at the MCG next Sunday.

While the Hawks will regain star forward Lance Franklin from suspension for that match, they have added midfielder Brad Sewell (calf) and gun small forward Cyril Rioli (hamstring) to their long injury list.

But despite already entering Friday night's clash missing 11 regulars, including late withdrawal Tom Murphy, they outclassed the Bombers, particularly in the second term, when they outscored them 8.2 to 1.1 to build a 61-point halftime lead.

It was Essendon's biggest loss of the season and they have now had five straight defeats, countering their strong start to the season, when they won five and drew another of their first eight games under first-year coach James Hird.

Their defensive intensity is a fraction of that with which they started the season and they will definitely fall out of the top eight by the end of the round.

The winner of Saturday's clash between ninth-placed Melbourne and 10th-placed Richmond will replace them, while North Melbourne, who sit in 11th, will also overtake the Bombers if they down Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Adding gloom, captain Jobe Watson (hamstring) will be sidelined for the second time this season, with fellow ball-winner Sam Lonergan (medial ligament) and David Myers (hamstring) also injured.

The absence of Franklin and fellow tall target Jarryd Roughead had prompted queries about where Hawthorn's goals would come from.

The answer was pretty much everywhere, as they had 10 different goal-kickers by halftime and 11 by the final siren.

Youngsters Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels and Shane Savage (three goals each) and Matt Suckling (two), were all big contributors, with Smith's run and classy ball use particularly evident, while Suckling damaged Essendon with strong kicking.

Grant Birchall provided outstanding rebound from halfback, while midfielder Sam Mitchell won the ball well.

The Bombers' big men barely had an impact, Paddy Ryder in particular looking badly out of touch and receiving Bronx cheers at times.

The Hawks' superior run and ball use and Essendon's lack of defensive pressure further rendered the height differential meaningless.

Essendon coach James Hird said Lonergan was likely to miss the rest of the season, and Watson and Myers were each expected to be sidelined for three games.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said Sewell had knee soreness and Rioli's hamstring strain was believed to be minor, with the size of the margin meaning they did not have to risk either player returning to the ground, although both are in doubt for the Magpies clash.

Clarkson was delighted with the way the club coped with a depleted side, but said Collingwood would provide the ultimate challenge and his group of emerging youngsters needed to stand up again.

"It will be a really good test to see where we're at as a footy club," he said.

Hird said it was the Bombers' most disappointing night this year, both with the performance and the injuries.

"It's not a great night, but we'll bounce back, I've got no doubt we'll bounce back," he said.

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