Hawthorn's spluttering premiership defence received an invaluable kick along when it outlasted a gallant West Coast by three goals in a grim dogfight at Aurora Stadium on Saturday night.
In slippery conditions tailor-made for a scrap, the Hawks could not shrug off a resilient effort from the much-improved Eagles until deep into the last quarter of their 11.8 (74) to 7.14 (56) victory.
Trailing by four points two minutes into the last quarter, the Hawks booted the next three goals then held firm to post only their second win of the season.
While far from convincing, the victory could prove to be just the tonic for the Hawks, who have made a sluggish start to 2009.
It only a week ago Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson questioned his team's endeavour but its performance against the Eagles showed the Hawks' appetite for success had not been dulled by their premiership last year.
Missing several Grand Final heroes, the Hawks displayed the tenacity, if not the skill, which has become a trademark of their game under the Clarkson era.
The Hawks tackled ferociously, as the conditions demanded, but so too did the Eagles.
So even was the contest, the greatest margin between the two teams was only 14 points until midway through the final term.
The match was still up for grabs until Lance Franklin, whose colours were lowered by Darren Glass, kicked his second deep into time-on in the last term.
Clarkson's decision to play captain Sam Mitchell closer to defence proved a masterstroke.
The skipper, with 40 possessions and deputy Luke Hodge riding shotgun, helped form what at times seemed an impregnable fortress across the Hawks' half-back line.
While Brad Sewell, who was adjudged best on ground, provided the grunt in the engine room, the brilliance came from excitement machine Cyril Rioli, whose goal seven minutes into the final term tipped the match in Hawthorn's favour.
After somehow crumbing his own marking contest, Rioli burst clear on his left side before goaling from outside 50.
Promoted rookie Garry Moss was also lively. He kicked four goals, including a freakish left-foot snap which put his side 19 points up in the last term.
Although not dominant, Jarryd Roughead's industrious work ethic was rewarded with four goals.
His tackle and goal in the second quarter helped spark the Hawks in the first half when they desperately needed inspiration.
The Eagles were not without their chances of snatching the game.
Had Quinten Lynch not let a straightforward pass slip through his fingers in the final term, the result could have been different.
Instead of Lynch lining up to narrow the margin to less than a kick, the ball was ferried up the other end for Roughead to kick his fourth.
The Eagles were also cruelled by a below-par game from playmaker Daniel Kerr, who was held to just 10 touches by the Hawks combination of Chance Bateman and Moss.
Their best was Dean Cox, who outclassed Simon Taylor and Brent Renouf.
Although beaten, there was plenty to like about the Eagles' effort. Glass and Hunter - two of the club's stars in 2006 - showed encouraging signs.
Hunter was dangerous up forward and could have finished with three or four goals if he was more accurate.
HAWTHORN: 1.3, 4.5, 6.7, 11.8 (74)
WEST COAST: 1.5, 2.9, 5.11, 7.14 (56)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Moss 4, Roughead 4, Franklin 2, Rioli
West Coast: McKinley 3, A. Embley, Hunter, Lynch, Priddis
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Sewell, Lewis, Bateman, Moss, Rioli
West Coast: Cox, Glass, Rosa, Selwood, Priddis, McKinley
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Young (hamstring)
West Coast: Nil
REPORTS: Selwood (Brisbane) for making alleged head-high contact with Bateman (Hawthorn)
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: McLaren, Grun, Pannell
CROWD: 17,880 at Aurora Stadium