FORWARD Jack Gunston says the 81-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday has given the Hawks a confidence boost heading into its Round 1 blockbuster against Geelong

The Kangaroos were no match for a dominant Hawthorn side who booted nine goals to one in a commanding third quarter performance that set up the big win.

It was a different Hawthorn outfit that took to the field at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Melbourne’s outer-North, but one that was similar to the Hawks of 2012.

High pressure, intensity and power up forward were the making of Hawthorn’s 2012 campaign, and all those characteristics were on show on Saturday.

In particular, Hawthorn’s second term was impressive as it kicked against a blustery and powerful breeze.

The Hawks applied the clamps, forcing the Kangaroos into a number of errors and ultimately turning those turnovers into scoring chances, booting four goals to one for the quarter.

Gunston says playing high pressure football is the focus, revealing forward pressure has been a key ingredient missing from the opening three weeks of the pre-season.

“It’s always a focus for us, we want high pressure especially from the forwards up there, we want to be able to lock it in, which I thought we did in the second quarter really well against the wind,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“The backs did well, they work really well together and they’ve been doing that all pre-season but I think the up field pressure, we haven’t seen that in the previous games.

“The forwards worked really hard with Poppy (Paul Puopolo) and Punky (Luke Breust) to keep the ball in our forward line and not even get it up into North Melbourne’s forward line.”

North Melbourne was without key defender Scott Thompson, and the Hawks took advantage of their undersized defensive group, choosing to play four talls up forward.

David Hale (four goals), Lance Franklin (three), Gunston (three) and Jarryd Roughead (one) proved too big and strong for the Kangaroos defence, illustrating the Hawks could once again have one of the most powerful forward lines in the competition.

Gunston says he was pleased with the way the forward set up worked.

“It worked well, we went pretty tall today playing Max Bailey in the ruck and then the three talls and myself up forward.

“We had good marking power and good small players at ground level to gather the crumbs and we kicked straight as well which was pleasing.”

The 21 year old was one of Hawthorn’s best in the win, enjoying more time up the ground pushing up to the wing and half back.

He says it was good to get more of the football.

“You can always tweak a few things in your game, but it was good to get up the ground and on the wing and get touches high in the defence,” he said.

“Obviously when you play that half forward role you can get starved of opportunities so that was good.”

Now, Gunston says the playing group can’t wait to play on the MCG in the Round 1 blockbuster against Geelong on Easter Monday, with the win giving the team a confidence boost.

“We’re all looking forward to it and the whole pre-season has been shaped around Round 1,” he said. “It’s very exciting and everyone can’t wait.”

“A win always gives you a bit of confidence, but the way we played and the way we moved the ball, we know it’s going to work and it’s what we’ve been training with and doing all pre-season.

“Now we all can’t wait to see it in two weeks’ time.”