Melbourne is wreaking havoc in Tasmania as Hawthorn sinks into a Saturday from hell.
The Hawks may have had their premiership credentials wiped from the slate after a torrid first half of football at their home-away-from-home at the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.
The Demons have cut an insipid Hawks side to shreds to lead by 77 points at the halfway mark of the match.
Coming into the Round 17 fixture, Hawthorn was in form, coming off back-to-back wins and sitting in third spot on the ladder.
But the Hawks, who have already lost to the Dees this season in Round 10 by 39 points, were annihilated in the first two quarters of Saturday's game.
At halftime, Melbourne led the disposals 199-150, inside 50s 37-23, clearances 24-9 and marks 54-37.
The most damning statistics, however, were that the Dees also led the Hawks in tackles (34-28) and contested marks (11-3), showing the host's unwillingness to fight in the air and without the ball.
All of these statistics have led to an incredible scoreline of 9-86 at halftime on the Hawks' home turf - a usual fortress for the club.
Returning star Jack Gunston (one disposal in the first half) was locked down entirely by Melbourne's Daniel Turner.
Without Nick Watson by their side, the likes of Jack Ginnivan and Dylan Moore could only accumulate five disposals between them.
While Hawthorn will deserve all the scathing criticism coming its way for the performance against a fellow contender, Melbourne, likewise, deserves all the credit coming its way.
The Dees were magnificent in the first half as they produced an effort and output even the most one-eyed Melbourne fan could not have seen coming.
More to come...
