Hawthorn has managed to overcome startling wastefulness in the first half to keep its slim finals hopes alive with a 42-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Hawks ran out 20.15 (135) to 14.9 (93) victors and are only two points out of the top eight after Port Adelaide lost to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

However, it will all count for nothing if Essendon defeats Fremantle at Subiaco on Sunday as that will create an unassaible six-point gap between the eighth-placed Bombers and the ninth-placed Hawks on the ladder ahead of their final-round encounter next week.

The Hawks led by only 16 points at half-time despite having 16 more inside 50s than Richmond and nine more scoring shots to that point.

And when Jack Riewoldt kicked truly three minutes into the third quarter, the Tigers trailed by just seven points after being largely outplayed in the first half and having trailed by 27 points in the second term.

However, Hawthorn found its radar to slam on six of the next seven goals to blow Richmond out of the water.

The result was put beyond doubt in a 10-second period late in the third quarter that saw Lance Franklin flatten Ben Cousins fairly and Beau Dowler snap his third goal from the spillage.

Luke McGuane then lost his cool and punched Michael Osborne in the stomach before the re-start and handed the Hawks another major.

Cousins had to be taken from ground and played no further part in the match. He joined team-mate Will Thursfield on the injury list after he sustained what looked to be a serious shoulder injury in the first quarter.

The Hawks were served well by premiership midfielders Brad Sewell (26 touches), Sam Mitchell (35) and Chance Bateman (29) who played a major role in their team comprehensively winning the inside-50 count 66-39.

But Luke Hodge, who played mainly in defence, was simply outstanding in his 150th match with his driving run and attack on the footy and finished with 30 disposals (13 contested), nine clearances, seven inside 50s and a clever goal.

Further afield, Franklin was too much for McGuane with 5.6 and he had excellent support from Dowler who proved a handy option with a career-best four goals and Osborne who booted three.

For Richmond, Brett Deledio finished with a personal best 36 possessions, Daniel Jackson and Nathan Brown were solid in the middle and Cousins was a valuable contributor before