Watch Buddy's best three goals from Saturday night's game on HawksTV above.

MUCH has been made of Hawthorn star Lance Franklin's increased midfield time in this NAB Cup, but the man himself says it's all a bit overblown.

On a night when the Hawks had winners everywhere in a 79-point belting of Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Franklin was again the talking point.

Roaming up and down the ground, he booted five goals, including two that had Hawthorn fans on their feet.

The first - the opening goal of the game - was a superb dribbling snap from deep in the forward pocket, with opponent James Frawley hot on his heels.

The second: a long, running supergoal as he burst through the centre square like a seasoned on-baller.

But Franklin was having none of the fanfare over his supposed new double role.

 "It's probably been no different to any other year, I don't reckon," the 25-year-old told hawthornfc.com.au after the match.

"It's probably been looked at a little bit too much.

"I'm pushing up the ground, which is no different to last year or the year before.

"But I'm enjoying it."

Franklin said his midfield forays were not at the specific direction of Alastair Clarkson - a point echoed by the coach in his post-game press conference.
 
"It's just whatever happens out on the ground; if one of the boys is a bit tired up in the middle, we'll swap, and we'll just keep changing it up," Franklin said.

And nor had he spent any more time than usual training as a midfielder over summer.

"There's been no real difference in terms of what I've done with the midfield during pre-season," he said.

"I've always worked with the midfield with my running over the pre-season, so that hasn't changed at all.

"It's just this time I'm probably playing a couple of minutes more in the midfield."

As he did after the Hawks' round one NAB Cup games, Clarkson said Franklin would still spend most of his time in the forward line this season, where he is most damaging.

But the dual Coleman medallist's running ability and penetrating kick makes him an attractive option up the ground.

"We just like the fact that he can mix his game up," Clarkson said.

"We know that he's got some talents that are greater than just playing as a forward in our side.

"As we saw tonight, he's able to kick four or five goals, but still make a contribution in the middle of the ground.

"So if we've got that flexibility in our side, I think it will help us."

Ominously for opponents, Clarkson said Franklin could still improve his midfield play.

"We're still trialling it of course, because he hasn't explored too much midfield work in the time he's been at the club," he said.

"So he's still learning the caper through the middle of the ground, but thus far we've been really pleased with the progress that he's made."

Franklin was more eager to highlight the performance of the team than dissect his own game.
 
"Tonight was just a kick-start for our season, I reckon," he said.

"It was a good win by the boys. We've got some good depth in the list at the moment.

"We've got some young guys who are stepping up ... it was a good game."

Mark Macgugan covers Hawks news for AFL.com.au and hawthornfc.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_MarkM.

Toyota AFL Dream Team is the only fantasy football competition where you can follow the scores LIVE during the NAB Cup. Register your team and see how your players are shaping up before the start of the Toyota Premiership Season.