NORTH Melbourne's historic return to Arden Street proved fruitful after a 21-point win over Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon. 

After an injury-plagued pre-season, North would have been chiefly relieved to see Todd Goldstein (ankle), Robbie Tarrant (back), Scott Thompson (adductor) and Majak Daw play their first games of 2017 and emerge unscathed. 

Meanwhile Hawthorn had its first glimpse of its three boom recruits Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara and Ty Vickery playing together on Sunday and Hawks fans would have loved what they saw in the 0.13.17 (95) to 0.11.8 (74) result.

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Midfielders O'Meara (recruited from Gold Coast) and Mitchell (Sydney) were both prime movers for the Hawks against North, with O'Meara's run and contested work particularly impressive, while he added a brilliant goal in the second quarter with an around-the-body set shot. 

And former Richmond spearhead Vickery presented well in the Hawks' forward line, kicking two goals, the second coming after a strong pack mark.

Mitchell was making his club debut for Hawthorn after missing last week's win over Geelong and looked at home in the Hawks' midfield set-ups.

O'Meara and Mitchell will be vital to the Hawks' hopes of staying in the top four this season after the exits of four-time premiership midfielders Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis at the end of last season. 

Jaeger firms for round one after fine showing

The Hawks will also look to Vickery to fill the forward/ruck role performed so ably by David Hale from 2011-15.

Hawthorn assistant Cam Bruce, who filled in as the Hawks senior coach on Sunday, was pleased with the performances of O'Meara, Mitchell and Vickery but said all three had room for improvement.

"It's a good start, they were solid today. They've still got areas we would like them to get better at, and they're building relationships with a group of players that they've just started playing with," Bruce said.

The Kangaroos made the most of the return to their spiritual home ground – the club last played an official game at Arden Street in 1985 – attacking the contest with vigour from the opening bounce. 

Goldstein, who carried the Roos' duties with his usual aplomb, sent a scare through North fans when he went into North's rooms midway through the third quarter, but it turned out he needed nothing more than a toilet break. 

Braydon Preuss shared North's ruck duties with Goldstein and continued his push for a premiership season debut. Significantly, Preuss provided a strong target when resting forward, kicking three goals, showing he is developing the forward nous to be considered as a support ruckman behind Goldstein.

North also had its first look at last year's No.12 draft pick, Jy Simpkin, with the young forward showing glimpses of the class that has him in contention for a round one debut.

Former Magpie Marley Williams and ex-Bulldog Nathan Hrovat also advanced their claims on round one spots with strong performances in defence and attack respectively. 

North assistant coach Josh Drummond, who assumed the Roos' senior coaching reins for Sunday's game, was "really proud" of his team's performance but acknowledged the successful returns of Goldstein, Tarrant, Thompson and Daw were more significant.

"It was a big day for the club playing our first game here for over 30 years. I thought they handled the occasion well and put in a strong performance," Drummond said.

"The win is great … but at the end of the day we're all building for round one so it was a key stepping stone for those guys just gaining some match fitness and building for West Coast in round one."

Senior Hawks Luke Hodge, Luke Breust and Jack Gunston played their opening games of 2017, and showed little rust. 

On a warm sunny day at Arden Street, the game started at a frantic pace with both teams attacking the ball fiercely. 

North made most of the running early, kicking three of the first four goals, but Hawthorn responded with the final two majors of the first quarter to go into quarter-time just two points down. 

The second quarter was a term of two halves. The Hawks dominated early, kicking three unanswered goals to get out to an 18-point lead.

The Roos then hit back with three unanswered goals of their own to go into half-time with a three-point lead, which should have been bigger with Ben Cunnington missing two easy set shots on goal. 

North carried that momentum into the third term, kicking the opening two goals, but the Hawks hit back with the next two, the first coming via Vickery after a strong pack mark. 

The Roos took a nine-point lead into three-quarter time and the Hawks couldn't get any closer during the final term, with the home team cruising to a 21-point win.

The famous elephant on the field was re-enacted during Sunday's match. Picture: AFL Photos

WHAT WE LEARNED
North Melbourne: Most importantly, key players Todd Goldstein (ankle), Robbie Tarrant (back) and Scott Thompson (adductor), and emerging forward Majak Daw (knee) should be ready for round one, averting what could have been an injury crisis for the Roos. Braydon Preuss is also emerging as a genuine contender to play in the same team as Goldstein, as his forward work continues to improve. 

Hawthorn: The Hawks' hopes of defying football gravity and staying in the top four are by no means delusional. There will be life in the Hawks' midfield after Sam Mitchell's and Jordan Lewis' departures, with Jaeger O'Meara and Tom Mitchell outstanding against the Roos. And maligned former Tiger Ty Vickery's performance was extremely encouraging, suggesting he will a handy pick-up in attack and as a pinch-hitting ruckman. 

NEW FACES
North Melbourne: Roos fans got their first look at Jy Simpkin, pick No.12 in last year's NAB AFL Draft. The forward came on in the second quarter and showed glimpses of his class, hitting Kayne Turner in attack with a nicely weighted pass and then in the third quarter he cleverly spun out of trouble on the wing. Former Bulldog Nathan Hrovat and rookie Cameron Zurhaar were lively in attack. Zurhaar set up Hrovat for North's first goal with a deft pass, while Hrovat set up North's second a minute later hitting Trent Dumont inside the Roos' forward 50. Zurhaar kicked a goal himself midway through second term. Ex-Magpie Marley Williams again looked at home on North's backline and looks on track for a round one berth.

Hawthorn: Former Sun O'Meara was outstanding through the midfield, the highlight of his day came early in the second term, when he converted with a brilliant curling set shot. Ex-Swan Mitchell also impressed in his club debut with his contested work at stoppages, while former Tiger Vickery presented well enough again in attack to suggest he'll prove an astute acquisition for the Hawks. 

NEXT UP
Both teams have a week off before they hit the road for their final JLT Community Series outings. North will play Greater Western Sydney on Friday, March 10, at Canberra's Manuka Oval, where the Roos played regular 'home' games from 2001-06, while Hawthorn will take on Port Adelaide on Sunday, March 12, at Noarlunga's Hickinbotham Oval, the home ground of SANFL team South Adelaide.

NORTH MELBOURNE             0.3.4    0.6.7    0.10.10            0.13.17   (95)                     
HAWTHORN                           0.3.2    0.6.4    0.9.7    0.11.8   (74)                  

SUPERGOALS
North Melbourne: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

GOALS
North Melbourne: Preuss 3, Hrovat 2, Dumont, McKay, Zurhaar, Higgins, Goldstein, Turner, Atley, Thomas
Hawthorn: Vickery 2, Stewart 2, Shiel, O'Meara, Rioli, Hodge, Lovell, Fitzpatrick, Breust

BEST
North Melbourne: McDonald, Higgins, Dumont, Macmillan, Preuss, Cunnington
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Mitchell, Gunston, Vickery, Gibson, Stratton 

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Ryan Clarke (corked right leg)
Hawthorn: James Frawley (head knock), Will Langford (head knock)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Haussen, O'Gorman, Jeffery, Mitchell 

Official crowd: 3981 at Arden Street