Hawthorn AFLW Senior Coach Bec Goddard has praised her side's efforts following a historic night at Marvel Stadium.

The Hawks went down by 26 points against Essendon but showed promising signs throughout the night. 

It was only until the fourth term when the Bombers really put their foot on the brake.

While disappointed about that fadeaway, Goddard took positives out of the match.

"For three quarters it was neck and neck," Goddard said.

"We felt our pressure was really at the level we wanted it to be, and it hadn't been probably in the couple of practice matches we had, but it went to a new level tonight.

"So that's great, part of progress, but in the fourth quarter we went into some habits that we probably don't want to see.

"That's about 12 debutants who haven't played AFLW before, 12 debutants tonight, and that's what they'll learn about what's needed to beat a really good opposition."

Goddard also spoke glowingly of Sophie Locke, who scored Hawthorn's first ever AFLW goal after losing her mother just over two weeks ago.

"I thought she was our most dangerous forward on the ground," Goddard said.

"I think she finished with about 10 kicks and five tackles, kicked a goal, and she just looked dangerous every time it was near her.

"She's a remarkable young person, never played AFLW before and the tragedy of her family over the past couple of weeks and the way that she kept turning up, she's a real character of our footy team and she really wears her heart on her sleeve so it was great that we could get her a goal." 

Hawthorn will now turn its attention to playing St Kilda in Round 2 in front of home fans for the first time at Box Hill City Oval, with the match taking place on Sunday 4 September at 4.10pm AEST.