Pre-season competitions often represent opportunities for young players to press their claims for Round 1 selection. 

This was very much the case in Hawthorn’s opening JLT Series clash against Brisbane on Sunday, as the Hawks fielded an inexperienced side which featured just three players who have surpassed the 50-game mark.

But despite their youth, the side was competitive with the Lions forced to go to another level in order to ultimately overcome the young Hawks side.

Read: JLT guns around the league

The fans got what they wanted to see: a glimpse of the future.

These glimpses came, most notably, through three highlights.

The first in the final minute of the second term as Irish racehorse Conor Nash chased down a loose ball inside forward 50 before deftly poking it through out of mid-air with his left boot.

Next up was Mathew Walker, who entered the game in the third term and made an immediate impact as he emerged from a pack to pluck a long ball at the top of the goal square. He complemented his strong hands with converting his first goal in the brown and gold.

The third moment of the day came as young forward Jackson Ross, pressed up hard against the boundary line, miraculously bended home a stunning goal.