HAWTHORN Â
1.2 Â Â Â Â 5.3 Â Â Â 10.4Â Â Â Â 14.9 Â Â Â (93)
NORTH MELBOURNE Â
3.5 Â Â Â 4.11 Â Â Â 7.15 Â Â Â 11.18Â Â Â (84)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Â Sicily 5, Hartung 2, Rioli 2, Smith, Lewis, Breust, Puopolo, O'Brien.
North Melbourne: Petrie 3, Thomas 3, Wood 2, Brown, Harvey, Ziebell.
BEST
Hawthorn: Sicily, Lewis, Burgoyne, Duryea, Rioli.
North Melbourne: Wells, Tarrant, Wood.Â
UMPIRESÂ Ryan, Findlay, Nicholls, Fleer.
CROWDÂ 37,073 at Etihad Stadium.
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Hawthorn outlast physical North Melbourne
Hawthorn have broken into the top four for the first time this season after outlasting North Melbourne in a ferocious, physical battle by nine points.
Hawthorn's form may have been patchy through the opening half of the season but they find themselves back in the top four – and primed for another premiership run – after a bruising Friday "fight night" win over North Melbourne.
The Hawks withstood a Roos unit determined to inflict physical pain, along with plenty of lip, to post a nine-point win with several incidents at Etihad Stadium set to be scrutinised by the match review panel.
Kangaroos veteran Michael Firrito took it upon himself to be the Roos' enforcer, while stand-in skipper Jack Ziebell found himself in several tussles, and his late hit on Sam Mitchell in the first term will be looked at by the  panel.
The Kangaroos' intent was clear. It wasn't just about banking the four points. Rather, this appeared personal, for they were determined to avenge a 10-goal loss and physical battering they took from the Hawks last year. Along with this, there had been a growing debate recently about their premiership aspirations, for their previous two defeats had been against fellow heavyweights, Sydney and Geelong.
While they were physically impressive, and key defender Robbie Tarrant held Jack Gunston goalless, they squandered too many chances in front of goal. While, in the end, the number of scoring opportunities was relatively even (Hawks 23, Kangaroos 29), the Roos had failed to capitalise on a 22-14 advantage until three-quarter-time.
Emerging Hawks forward James Sicily was arguably the difference, booting a career-high five goals without blemish and celebrating each one in style. Two came in a pulsating final term, when Brent Harvey, quiet to that point, found his run and gave North's tall forwards every opportunity.
Stand-in Hawks skipper Jordan Lewis willed his side across the line, and his work particularly at the clearances was outstanding.
"We had to weather the storm early – they missed some opportunities and that kept us in the game," Lewis said.
"We didn't play our best footy but we found a way."
It wasn't until a controversial tackle by Paul Puopolo on Jamie MacMillan – and the resultant goal – with six seconds left that the result was settled.
The absence of Jarryd Roughead, initially through injury and, more recently, to cancer, Luke Hodge's injury troubles and the indifferent form which comes from giving greater game-time to younger players have meant the Hawks have not been consistently at their intimidating best so far this year.
But, as Hodge said pre-match, the first half of the season is all about banking wins, and the Hawks now have 10 – as many as the Kangaroos who were unbeaten through the opening nine rounds – and find themselves firmly in the premiership mix.
The Hawks do have an eye on the future, and are determined to not fall off the same perch which destroyed the legacy of  Brisbane's hat-trick of premierships. But this unit still has unfinished business, and will only get better once Hodge returns fit from his mini pre-season, most likely after the bye.
This was a contest Hodge would have thrived in. The hits came early, most notably when Mitchell was knocked to the turf but, showing his veteran nous as teammates and rivals remonstrated the hit, took advantage of the 50m penalty to dash off, leading to the Hawks' only goal of the term – and another spotfire.Â
Firrito and Luke Breust later scuffled, and the Kangaroo could find himself under scrutiny. But the Roos failed to inflict pain where it really could have hurt – on the scoreboard. The Roos dominated the inside-50 count 20-8 and clearances 12-7 and, for about 15 minutes heading into quarter-time, spent about 70 per cent of the time with the ball. But they squandered opportunities in front of goal, with Mason Wood and Brown among the offenders.
The Hawks, as expected, lifted after the break and began to win the hard ball. Mitchell, having been tagged by Trent Dumont, started to get involved, while Jordan Lewis was also busy.
The Roos, though, were their own worst enemy. A free kick behind play gifted Tim O'Brien a goal, kickstarting the Hawks. What appeared a legal hit by Lindsay Thomas on Josh Gibson led to a 50m penalty and free to the Hawk, and a goal to  Sicily. Another injudicious hit, this time from Drew Petrie on Mitchell, would soon gift Cyril Rioli a goal. That goal was also compounded when Luke McDonald tore his hamstring while tackling Rioli.
In between, the Hawks had booted two goals, and the Roos had another injury worry. Daniel Wells, arguably best afield to that point, rolled his ankle and required treatment but he returned and continued to be a force.Â
For all of the Roos' focus at the man and the ball, they led by two points at half-time.
Another advantage they did have was aerially up forward, where Petrie and Brown stretched James Frawley and Josh Gibson.Â
The two talls continued to create trouble in the third term, booting the Roos' opening two, but the Roos couldn't break free.