Melbourne, on a four-game winning streak, were up against it when superstar skipper Kate Hore (quad) and defender Gabby Colvin (concussion) withdrew before the game.
Now Melbourne's AFLW finals hopes are hanging by a thread after the Hawks fought out a 3.5 (23) to 2.5 (17) win on Thursday night, their seventh victory on the bounce, in difficult conditions at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns.
"There's so many factors that make it extra special," Hawthorn defender Mattea Breed told Fox Sports.Â
"Coming in, Melbourne are almost back at full strength, and we think there's been a bit of talk around us yet to beat a good side. So it's nice to be able to step up to the challenge.Â
"Indigenous round as well - extra special for me. So yeah, just a lot of emotions. We're really happy to get the win."
In Indigenous round, Tiwi defender Breed took a genuine mark-of-the-year contender over Georgia Gall in the third quarter.
MATTEA BREED. WHAT A GRAB 🤯— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) #AFLWHawksDees pic.twitter.com/W69FPyAl75October 24, 2024
"(I was) just trying to get myself back into the game, and I think that helped a lot, helped lift the momentum and the rest of the team," Breed said.
"So, yeah, felt pretty good."
The Demons (20 points) are up against it as they sit behind seventh-placed Fremantle and eighth-placed Essendon, who are yet to play this round, on percentage.
Hawthorn (36 points) are two points ahead of North Melbourne, who play third-placed Adelaide on Friday night. The Hawks next play Richmond next Sunday.
Hore has a minor quad strain and Melbourne are hopeful she won't miss next Saturday's crucial clash with Collingwood.
Melbourne are hoping skipper Kate Hore (centre) will be back for the Demons' next match. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)
Demons AFLW boss Jessie Mulholland said Hore had "awareness in her quad" after Tuesday's training and got through their final session, but pulled up sore on Thursday morning.
Colvin was due to return from concussion but suffered a head knock at training and is back in concussion protocols.
In Hore's absence, Blaithin Mackin (22 disposals), Sinead Goldrick, Eliza McNamara (23 touches), Olivia Purcell and Tyla Hanks stood tall.
But Hawthorn skipper Emily Bates (20 disposals) starred, along with young gun Jasmine Fleming (22 touches), former Demon Eliza West (25 disposals) and stalwart Tilly Lucas-Rodd (23 disposals).
Hawthorn skipper Emily Bates led by example, picking up 20 disposals against the Demons. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Hawthorn will sweat on the match review officer's assessment of Mackenzie Eardley's dangerous dumping tackle on Goldrick in the third term.
Melbourne kicked the first goal but trailed by six points at quarter-time, then 13 at the main break as they struggled to handle Hawthorn's surging, slick ball movement.
Hawthorn struggled to put the game away, but Melbourne fell short of the required comeback.
"I felt like the group did well to navigate our way through the game," Melbourne coach Mick Stinear said.
"But ultimately the better team won and we kind of left our run a little bit too late."
