While he would no doubt have preferred to be playing, Hawthorn's suspended key defender Brian Lake took centre stage prior to the match in Launceston, parading around Aurora Stadium with the freshly unfurled 2013 premiership flag. Sadly for Lake – and the Hawks – only 12,430 fans turned out to see the round one match, a disappointing figure given the club's long-term commitment to its Tasmanian supporters.

It was a big day for debutants in Launceston with no fewer than five players taking the field for their first AFL outing. Of the quintet, young Lion James Aish looked most assured, gathering his first two touches from the opening bounce and finishing with 17 disposals for the afternoon. He might have to wait some time to add to his two SANFL premierships, but the first-round selection certainly looks capable of living up to the hype that saw him offered a contract extension during his first pre-season at the Lions.

All eyes have been on Lance Franklin since his move north to the Sydney Swans in the summer, but Hawks fans with '23' on their guernsey mightn't need to pick a new number just yet. While he wasn't exactly prolific, 193cm key-position prospect Tim O’Brien nailed a long-range goal with his first kick in League football and did enough to suggest he'll provide solid support for Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust and Jack Gunston in the Hawthorn forward line this season.

He might have a pair of eye-wateringly bright new boots for 2014 but Luke Hodge hasn’t changed the way he approaches the game. Right on the quarter-time siren the Hawks talisman was crunched in a contest for the ball, leaving all 12,430 at Aurora Stadium groaning as the skipper slammed to the turf. But before there was time to even ask 'is he all right?', Hodge rolled off his back and sprang to his feet as if his ribcage hadn't just been rattled by a well-directed shoulder from Lion Marco Paparone.

Much as Lake was the recruit of 2013, Ben McEvoy could well be the League’s best pick-up this season and the Hawks already look better off for having him in brown and gold. The 'big boy' shaded Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck and teamed well with David Hale to give Hawthorn an edge. While the centre clearances were keenly contested, the Hawks did experiment with personnel in the centre square and rarely used what might be considered their best clearance team in the middle.