HAWTHORN's patience with the chronically injured Max Bailey may finally be rewarded this year, while mature-age draftee Paul Puopolo has set tongues wagging with a stunning performance in the club's intra-club match in Launceston on Friday.

Bailey was the good news story out of the morning, with the injury-hit ruckman able to play out a full game after spending the entire 2010 season recovering from a third knee reconstruction.

"Max got through and that's really pleasing for him," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"He's had a big pre-season - that's what's been great for him.

"The times that he's hurt his knee he's missed a lot of the pre-season because of the timing of the injury, but coming back from this one he's been able to at least do a full pre-season so I'm sure he'll be pretty excited to get through today."

Forty Hawthorn players took part in the spirited hit-out with the list divided into younger and older players; the younger side won by seven points.

Isaac Smith, the club's first-round selection at the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, put in some eye-catching runs and kicked a good goal, but the most impressive new draftee was small defender Puopolo.

The 23-year-old from SANFL club Norwood was tough in close, mopped up well across half-back and displayed a desire to chase hard, putting him in contention to fill the role vacated by Campbell Brown.

Jarryd Roughead also made a promising start to his 2011 campaign with five goals playing deep in attack, while Lance Franklin, who booted three majors, was released to roam further afield.

Cameron Bruce played on the ball for the majority of the match and appeared to slot in well alongside Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis and Jordan Lewis.

Tom Murphy was involved in a bit of push and shove with Jordan Lisle at one point but Clarkson said he was pleased with the game's intensity.

"The boys played with some spirit on both sides and they moved the ball in the manner that we like, so it was a good hit-out," he said.
 
"[But] from a coaching point-of-view the most pleasing thing is that you come out of the game unscathed.

"A lot of guys did different things throughout the course of the game that we were pleased with, but we'll go back and have a look at the tape and give them some feedback on what they've done well and what they need to improve.

"But by and large getting 40 guys through four quarters is really pleasing for us."

Shane Savage departed the ground on crutches, but was reported to have suffered only a slightly rolled ankle.

Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell did not take part, but neither player is injured (they are on tailored pre-season programs).

Former Roo David Hale was also absent with the coach revealing he is nursing an Achilles problem. Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne were in Alice Springs for the Indigenous All-Stars game with Richmond that ultimately did not go ahead.