The Hawks gave former assistant Damien Hardwick a brutal introduction to AFL senior coaching as they won 3.16.12 (135) to 0.9.8 (62).
Franklin finished with five goals, but it was the way he led and kicked that will have the Hawthorn faithful excited.
He looks to have lost some of the bulk that appeared to hamper him last year, and with a straighter run as he kicked for goal, looked every inch the weapon who kicked the ton in 2008.
The contest was tight for the first 10 minutes, but then the Hawks took over and the Tigers were left floundering, although they saved some face as the Hawks closed down in the last term and the Tigers more than doubled their score with five late goals.
But it was the Hawks of old as Franklin kicked into gear, Jarryd Roughead looked dangerous beside him, and they were fed by a voracious midfield led by Luke Hodge and captain Sam Mitchell, who finished with 38 touches.
Campbell Brown patrolled half-back with his customary swagger, while Xavier Ellis, Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell and youngster Liam Shiels all had plenty of it.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said his side was clearly in better shape this year when compared to the same time in 2009.
"Our guys were pretty fit and hungry, and they've had a great preparation," he said after the match.
"The ones who played tonight were all ready to go, and hopefully we'll get two or three back into the side by [next week] and get their preparation on course for round one.
"We saw a fair few of our guys up and running and ready to go - we've got probably six or eight players like [Chance] Bateman, [Josh] Gibson, [Shaun] Burgoyne, [Cyril] Rioli, [Rhan] Hooper - those type of guys who will hopefully have good five or six week blocks heading into the season.
"Our focus is clearly on round one and Melbourne."
For the Tigers, Dustin Martin - taken with the third pick overall in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft - slotted seamlessly into senior football as he led the Tigers with 26 disposals, dual club champion Brett Deledio worked hard through the middle with Daniel Connors, Andrew Collins and Shane Edwards, while down back, rookie David Gourdis showed promise.
Hardwick said he was pleased with the Tigers' second half, but that the result changed nothing at Punt Rd.
"We're a young developing side, and Hawthorn are a top-four calibre side, and we're a fair way off them at this stage," he said.
"Look, nothing's changed - we know exactly where we're at.
"We've got to plan for the future, we know where we're headed, but it's going to take some time."
With the Hawks still being without excitement machine Rioli and former Port Power player Burgoyne, the signs are ominous for the other teams eyeing a top-eight finish.
Once Hawthorn found the go pedal it was game over, leading by 38 at the first change, 72 at the half and 12 at the final break.
The Tigers had two injuries, with newcomer Ben Nason injuring a knee, and Adam Thomson taking a knee to the back of the head in a marking contest.
Hawthorn will play the winner of Sunday's Western Bulldogs/Brisbane Lions clash at Etihad Stadium on February 26, while Richmond will play on the NAB Challenge circuit.
Hawthorn 0.7.3 2.10.7 3.15.11 3.16.12 (135)
Richmond 0.1.1 0.2.1 0.4.2 0.9.8 (62)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals: Breust, Mitchell, Roughead Goals: Franklin 5, Roughead 2, Hodge 2, Ellis, Moss, Mitchell, Suckling, Lisle, Shiels, Schoenmakers
Richmond: Nine-point goals: Nil Goals: Riewoldt 3, Nahas 2, Polak, Astbury, Hislop, Morton
BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Roughead, Ellis
Richmond: Martin, Deledio, Connors, Gourdis, Edwards, Collins
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nason (hyper-extended knee), Thomson (knee to head),
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ryan, Grun, Richie
Official crowd: 11,217 at Aurora Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
