Hawthorn delivered a crushing 70-point victory over Richmond at the MCG, propelling them back into the top four of the AFL ladder.Uncontracted forward Mitch Lewis starred with five goals, while Nick Watson also booted five in a dominant first half.

The Tigers, commemorating triple premiership player Dion Prestia's 250th game, were outclassed throughout, with their largest deficit coming in the third quarter.

Hawthorn's performance marked a significant turnaround after a previous sixth-place finish, showcasing their ability to dominate lower-ranked opponents.Meanwhile, Essendon secured a historic win over GWS, ending a 30-game losing streak under caretaker coach Dean Solomon.The Bombers' victory, despite missing key player Nate Caddy, highlighted their resilience.

In other results, the Western Bulldogs extended their lead over Gold Coast, while Carlton's Harry McKay suffered a minor knee injury that may affect their wildcard chances.The match at the MCG saw Hawthorn maintain a 63-point lead at halftime, their biggest margin under coach Sam Mitchell in five seasons.