Let's flashback to Round 1, 10 years ago, as a future Hawthorn star made his debut...

Hoping to get off to a flying start to the 2008 season, the Hawks came up against the Demons with a trio of players making their first appearance for the club in the Round 1 clash at the MCG.

While the continued development of some its young stars saw the side reach the previous year’s semi-final, Hawthorn seem hungry to go even further in 2008.

The club showcased its most recent first round draft pick – an exciting small forward by the name of Cyril Rioli – alongside former Port Adelaide premiership player Stuart Dew, who came out of retirement to join the Hawks in the off-season.

The Demons meanwhile were also looking for an improved performance from the season ahead after finishing 14th with only five wins in 2007.

QT: The Hawks looked to be on from the get-go as they stormed to an early lead after claiming the opening four goals of the game.

However, the side suffered a significant blow with key defender Trent Croad going down in the opening minutes of the game with a wrist injury.

Star forward Lance Franklin also loomed ominous as he bagged two goals in a row, as the Hawks took a 35 to seven lead into the first break.

 

HT: The Demons were held goalless in the second term as the Hawks pushed ahead through goals to key pillars Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin, who nailed a trademark long range goal from outside 50.

Both sides failed to take their chances in front of goal, but it was nonetheless a one-sided contest, as the Hawks held a 41-point advantage at half time.

 

3QT: The third term saw the floodgates open as the Hawks piled on the pain with an eight-goal-to-one quarter.

Chance Bateman and Sam Mitchell were prolific through the midfield for the Hawks as new recruit Stuart Dew provided one of the highlights of the day as he brushed off a pair of would-be Demon tacklers to burst through and nail his first goal in brown and gold from close range.

Franklin continued to torment the opposition defence as he landed his fourth and fifth majors for the day, before Dew again chimed in with an impressive snap under pressure from tight on the boundary.

Debutante Cameron Stokes also bobbed up for his first AFL goal after Jarryd Roughead cleverly palmed a high ball down to the crumbing forward as the Hawks had built an insurmountable 80-point lead.

 

FT: Keeping their foot on the throat, the Hawks put together another eight-goal term in a what was truly a dominant performance.

Franklin restarted proceedings with his six major of the day, as the side began to share the spoils.

Debutante Rioli (14 disposals) showed signs of things to come as he shook off a pair of defenders in the Hawks’ forward fifty to send through his first career goal, before soon after intercepting the opposition kick-in to set up Jarryd Roughead for his third.

Despite conceding four goals in the second half of the quarter, the Hawks finished 104-point victors – their biggest opening round win since 1990 – with Mitchell and Bateman leading all comers with 34 and 29 disposals respectively.