Playing his first game of the pre-season at Visy Park, Franklin gathered 26 disposals and booted 4.4 to help his side power away from the West Coast Eagles.
The two teams were level for most of the day before ‘Buddy’ helped the Hawks boot 5.5 to 1.0 in the final term as his team ran away to win by 38 points.
Despite some poor kicking from both teams, Hawthorn won what was at times a scrappy affair, 13.21 (99) to 8.13 (61).
“We were pretty pleased with what [Franklin] was able to put out today,” Clarkson said after the match.
“He’s done a lot of training; he hasn’t done a lot of contact work over the summer but he’s been able to do a lot of the running work and in the last three or four weeks he’s built up his body contact.
“So he’s ready to go; he’s fit and hungry and he’s had a good pre-season but he just had less body contact and marking contests in pre-season than what he would have in the last three years, but that’s not such a bad thing.”
While Franklin played almost the full four quarters, Hawks star Luke Hodge also made a successful return.
He gathered 19 possessions in his now-customary role across half back. The Norm Smith medallist, with his right shoulder heavily strapped, did not return after three-quarter time and had ice on his left thigh, but Clarkson said Hodge had only copped a minor knock and his team had got through the clash relatively unscathed.
While Hodge went about his work in usual, mopping-up fashion, Franklin was more conspicuous.
Whenever he got the ball, the small crowd could be heard lifting their voices in anticipation – particularly later in the match as the No.23 began to exert a greater influence.
He showed on several occasions the shoulder and thumb injuries that had hampered his summer were behind him as he took several strong marks and moved with his usual zip.
He also showed little regard for Eagle opponents Mitch Brown and, for the most part, Eric Mackenzie, often playing on and taking on his less experienced rivals.
Franklin finished the day with four goals but also had a hand in at least three others.
Jarryd Roughead also provided a strong target, while at ground level there were no sign of the second-year blues for Cyril Rioli, who pounced on anything loose and looked lively throughout the match.
Brad Sewell was on and off the ground throughout the game but was his usual bullocking self when on the ball. He, along with skipper Sam Mitchell, each had 29 disposals.
Clarkson was also pleased with the performances of youngsters Ryan Schoenmakers, Beau Dowler, Garry Moss, Brendan Whitecross and rookie Riley Milne.
With the Hawks not having any injury concerns from the match, the club will now focus on which players they have to choose from for their round one clash with Geelong.
Clarkson said Trent Croad and Rick Ladson were certain to miss but the door was ajar for an influx of others to push for a recall against the Cats.
“Jordan Lewis will be an outside chance … we’ll need to make an assessment on [Stephen] Gilham,” he said.
“No matter what happens we’ll have a good competitive side that runs out there for round one.”
Dream Team watch – Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin is rated a $428,000 forward in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
Hawthorn 2.7 4.12 8.16 13.21 (99)
West Coast Eagles 1.4 4.11 7.13 8.13 (61)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Rioli 2, Williams 2, Dew, Roughead, Schoenmakers, Suckling, Thorp.
West Coast Eagles: Butler 2, Lynch 2, Hansen, McKinley, Rosa, Staker.
BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Sewell, Guerra, Rioli, Mitchell, Young.
West Coast Eagles: Butler, Rosa, Kerr, Masten, Priddis.
Injuries
Hawthorn: Nil.
West Coast Eagles: Nil.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Rosebury, Stevic.
Crowd: About 500 at Visy Park
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
