HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says his side will enter the 2011 season with genuine depth, after a host of inexperienced Hawks toppled Fremantle and pushed West Coast in the side's NAB Cup opener on Sunday night.

The Hawks exposed a host of recent recruits and rookie-listed players at Patersons Stadium, with Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli the only established players to make the trip.

However, they made a late run in their opening match against West Coast, eventually falling two-points short, and stunned Fremantle to win by 14 points in the night's second fixture.

Clarkson said he was pleased with the night's outcome, despite the likelihood Hawthorn will not progress through to the next round of the NAB Cup, and the youngsters would push for senior selection early in the season proper.

"We really feel like we've got eight or 10 players that will seriously challenge our more senior group that didn't play today," Clarkson said after Hawthorn's two matches.

"That depth will hopefully hold us in pretty good stead throughout the year, because like any season you're going to need to call on 3o to 32 players.

"We really like the energy and enthusiasm that these young kids brought and can bring in the early rounds of the season in particular.

"We're looking forward to seeing how the next four weeks unfold."

Jordan Lisle, an 18-year-old rookie forward, was particularly impressive in the opening match against West Coast, kicking two late goals, while young midfielder Shane Savage and rookies Luke Breust and Tom Schneider impressed.

Clarkson said he was pleased the young players were so competitive on the road, and against more experienced players.

"We brought a very, very young squad - we knew and understood that going into the game - but for them to get that exposure … that's just a great opportunity for our young boys," he said.

"Both Fremantle and West Coast used some senior players in their games against us, and [our younger players] acquitted themselves well in both games.

"We knew we were going to come up against some seasoned players, but they took on the challenge and we got a pretty competitive result."

While saying the young players deserved a chance to play in Hawthorn's next pre-season match, Clarkson expected to welcome some senior players back in a fortnight.  

Ruckman Max Bailey, who has spent 18 months on the sidelines and endured three knee reconstructions, should also return after being held back on Sunday.

"He played a trial game for us down in Tassie, and we just wanted to nurse him through a bit [and] make sure his preparation's right," Clarkson said.

"He just had a little bit of swelling on that knee in that Tassie game."

Tom Murphy tweaked an ankle on Sunday, while Brent Renouf received a knock to the head, but Clarkson said neither was serious and the club had no injury concerns out of the match.