AT FIRST, Lance Franklin was like any exciting, emerging player: he learnt to take marks, scoop up loose balls and kick stacks of goals against single opponents.

On Friday night, Buddy kicked five first-half goals while matched against Dale Morris, and three more in the second half, when Morris switched jobs with Brian Lake.

But those match-ups were simply technical ones, much of the time. Franklin often leapt for the ball while squeezed between two Bulldogs players. He took marks and when he didn't, kept his feet much better than those around him, scoring through skill but also through some persistence and hard work.

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In drawing two opponents, explained his teammate Michael Osborne, Buddy creates space for other players in his side. But to be big, strong and smart enough to beat multiple opponents, he said, is his goal.

"He was really good tonight, especially when he had two players on him," said Osborne after Hawthorn's emphatic 51-point victory, which pushed the club into a preliminary final and within one triumph of its first grand final in 17 seasons.

"He was really strong and he's been working on that all year, so that if we do kick it to him and he's got two blokes on him, we know he can still win those contests. But, then again, if he draws two players, it does leave someone else open to get the ball.

"Now that he gets a lot more attention, he's having to work harder for some of his possessions, so full credit to him for the work-rate he's produced this year. You forget he's only a young bloke and still maturing. He's got a lot of football ahead of him and he's already a superstar. Who knows where he'll go."

Both sides were a little uncertain in the first few minutes of the MCG match, but where Brad Sewell, Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell had begun asserting themselves by midway through the first, the big-hearted Daniel Cross had few teammates who weren't hesitant, unsure, making odd decisions and for some reason not snapping out of it.

It was almost like the Bulldogs were wondering why they were out there — and while they were standing still, thinking, they got completely crushed. The Hawks had a two-goal lead by quarter-time and were seven in front by half-time, the Bulldogs never finding any real urgency and Luke Hodge taking gutsy marks in defence right until the very end.

For Ryan Griffen's dash and creativity, the Hawks had Hodge's hard, decisive sprints and slicing passes delivered by Stuart Dew and Brent Guerra off half-back; for Jason Akermanis, who kicked three goals after playing in defence on Cyril Rioli in the first half, Hawthorn had Rioli's cool-headedness and Osborne, who kicked four goals.

Robbie Campbell was without his most experienced sidekick, Simon Taylor, but in first-year ruckman Brent Renouf, he found an energetic, highly competitive partner. For everything the Bulldogs had, Hawthorn simply had more.

Osborne has played in several spots throughout his career; this year, he has avoided injury, played in every game for the first time and settled into the forward line.

He has enjoyed the individual challenge and, rather than feeling threatened by the recruitment of Rioli and Cameron Stokes to the forward pocket, has tried to help them out.

"It's been good having those guys come through and I've helped them as much as I can," he said.

"With me being an older player, I can teach them and try and accelerate their learning. To have Stokes and Rioli come into a good team and play as well as they have, it shares the workload and makes it easier for everyone else."