Round 21 2016 vs North Melbourne.

90 games ago.

That was the last time Hawthorn booted eight goals in a quarter, bursting out of the blocks in an opening term brown and gold bonanza against the Roos.

This time it was in the third quarter against an Essendon side that had completely outclassed the Hawks in the previous term.

The third quarter is often referred to as the premiership quarter, and whilst the result didn’t quite deliver a flag, there were signs within that gave a snapshot of the club’s promising pursuit towards its next piece of silverware.

Match report: A THRILLER to start the season

Goals to O’Brien. Moore. Brockman. Moore. Morrison. Phillips. Moore. Breust.

27 years old. 21. 18. 21. 22. 24. 21. And the 30-year-old Breust.

Youngsters taking it upon themselves.

The boys have reiterated time and time again that mental toughness was the theme of their pre-season and didn’t that show on Saturday night?

The Hawks’ 92-point final score would have ranked as the club’s second highest score in 2020, a welcome improvement for Hawks fans to see.

With scoring on the up also came a clear step forward inside the team’s engine room.

The Hawks won the clearance count on Saturday night, a feat they achieved on just four occasions last year.

Jaeger O’Meara led the way for Hawthorn in this area, with nine clearances to his name - no one in the competition registered more in Round 1.

Add to that the magnetic hands of Tom Mitchell (39 disposals), the outside class of Tom Phillips (21 touches and a goal) and the continued progression of Harry Morrison (20 possessions and two majors) – Hawks fans couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the new campaign.