Hawthorn tightened their grip on an AFL top four berth thanks to their forward firepower, overpowering nearest rivals Sydney by 31 points at the MCG.

Four goals each to Lance Franklin and Mark Williams and three to Jarryd Roughead guided the third-placed Hawks past a dogged fourth-placed Swans 15.16 (106) to 10.15 (75).

With Franklin dominant early, the Hawks looked set for a rout as they raced to a 33-point halftime lead against a flat Sydney side.

But the Swans kept chipping away, with skipper Brett Kirk and Adam Goodes inspiring their side in the third term as the Hawks were wasteful in front of goal.

Sydney piled on four goals to one in the quarter, reining the Hawks' lead in to 16 points at the final change.

Then Hawthorn lifted a cog in the fourth, with Roughead kicking two in the term.

After Sydney had closed to within three goals, Williams' fourth goal at the 16-minute mark of the final term gave the Hawks the breathing space they needed.

Goals to Cyril Rioli and Franklin's fourth in time-on extended the margin.

Franklin had a mixed bag of a day, finishing with 4.7 and putting another three out of bounds on the full.

The Swans will be sweating on the match review panel on Monday, with forward Amon Buchanan likely to come under scrutiny after making heavy contact with the head of Hawk Luke Hodge.

Buchanan slid into Hodge at a centre clearance right on the halftime siren - his shoulder crunching the Hawks' midfielder's head at pace.

While Hodge was shaken, he was able to continue playing.

Sydney also appear to have injury concerns, with defender Tadhg Kennelly having to have his shoulder manipulated into place several times during the match.

Defender Nick Malceski was also a late withdrawal prior to the match.

Hawthorn now have 13 wins from 15 matches this season, while the Swans are now just two points clear of fifth-placed Collingwood.

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