by Nicholas Duck
Sometimes if you want to climb, you have to find out how far away you are from the top. For Drouin that message was received loud and clear on Saturday after they were utterly obliterated away from home by Moe.
The Hawks could do nothing to stop the wave of momentum against them from the rampaging Lions, overwhelmed and outmatched from the word go in a brutal 8.6 (54) to 28.16 (184) defeat.
Lion Ben Crocker again had an appetite for destruction, booting eight goals to take his season tally to 27 from five games.
The Hawks had no answers for the former Collingwood and Adelaide forward, with Crocker beating anyone they threw at him.
Crocker's efforts inside 50 were symbolic of how the day went in general. While he was dobbing them from just about anywhere, benefitting from some slick ball movement from his teammates, the Hawks had to struggle and fight for any reward.
The day broke a few records for Moe, including their highest score and largest winning margin ever against Drouin. Crocker's haul was also the most goals kicked by a Lion against the Hawks.
A bout of flu running through Drouin during the week certainly didn't help their case, but against a team vying for the flag there wasn't much the Hawks could have done anyway.
Drouin lost the disposal count 314-442, the inside 50s 29-68 and clearances 38-46.
Brothers Aden (43 disposals) and Kye Quirk (31 disposals) again led from the front for the visitors, the former especially putting his head over the ball to win 11 clearances against a quality opposition.
Junior player Max Williames showed some good signs through the middle and up forward, setting up a couple of goals and breaking tackles.
Seb Amoroso fought hard as always, Zach McMillan played in just about every position on the ground and Riley Wierzbicki competed well in the ruck despite giving away a fair bit of height against Moe big man Chris Prowse. Moe's Brock Smith reigned supreme for the home side, putting in a best on ground performance off half back and through the midfield.
Justin Morrow (five goals) and Harrison Sim were big factors in the Lions' ability to punish their opposition's mistakes. Callum Nash and Nick Prowse also were standouts on a day where Moe didn't have many losers.
The Lions set the tone early with a powerful first quarter display that saw them kick six goals to one.
A quickfire major to Myles Poholke was soon answered by Zach McMillan putting one through from close range, but thereafter it was one-way traffic as the home side clicked into gear.
The ability to hit their kicks going forward was a real standout for the Lions, showing the Hawks how it's done.
Moe had 11 in the bag before Wiercbicki could put through another for the visitors with Morrow and Moe swingman Declan Keilty (four goals) giving some serious headaches to the Drouin defence.
Some decent patches of play showed the exuberance of Drouin's youth despite Moe owning the day.
Starting essentially from square one was always going to be a tough prospect for the Hawks. They took to the field on Saturday with an average age of 20.7 and are pretty bereft of experienced veterans.
Moe, meanwhile, are absolutely humming in their hunt for a drought-breaking premiership.
Drouin coach Leigh Horsburgh was looking for the silver linings after a difficult day.
"I think we were actually alright at times, they're just really bloody good," he said.
"They've got great players everywhere. We were trying to do similar things to them but our execution was nowhere near as good. It was a good experience for our boys."
The next two weeks don't look too attractive for the Hawks, with Traralgon and Leongatha looming on the horizon.
With any luck they can limit the pain that might be coming their way.