Hawthorn gave an early indication they will be an AFL powerhouse again in 2010 as they delivered new Richmond coach Damien Hardwick a nightmare start to his head coaching career.

The Hawks completely dominated Saturday night's opening round NAB Cup encounter in Launceston for three quarters, before easing up to win 3.16.12 (135) to 0.9.8 (62).

After an injury-hit and sluggish start to last season, coming off their 2008 premiership, the Hawks stars showed they are out to quickly set a different tone this year.

Forward Lance Franklin was superb, dominating in the air to kick three goals in the first 15 minutes on the way to five for the night.

His sometimes erratic set-shot kicking was on song, including a beautiful threaded goal from tight in the left-forward pocket in the third term.

Fellow stars Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge were just as impressive.

Mitchell picked up 38 touches, while Hodge, playing in the midfield, was damaging with his precise long kicking and snared two goals.

Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis also gathered plenty of the ball, while Jarryd Roughead showed he will again form a formidable double act with Franklin, with three goals from seven shots, including a nine-pointer.

There were precious few positives for Richmond.

One ray of light was the performance of the club's top national draft pick, Dustin Martin, the midfielder his side's best, showing great attack on the ball and using it well, while another youngster Daniel Connors was also solid.

The Tigers also fought out the match, trailing by 102 points at the last change before reducing it to 73 at the final siren, with Jack Riewoldt kicking two last quarter goals to give him three for the night.

But clearly former Hawthorn assistant and now Richmond head coach Hardwick faces a huge task, both to instill a tougher defensive mindset in his young squad and to eradicate their regular costly skill errors.

Further souring the night for Richmond was having two players stretchered off.

Draftee Ben Nason's right knee buckled underneath him late in the first half, while Adam Thomson was knocked out in a marking contest early in the second.

Franklin left the ground in the second term, after a clash of bodies, but did not appear badly hurt and returned to play out the game.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson praised his side's intent and enthusiasm and said physically the list was in better shape than the same time last year.

"We went into the season last year with a few guys underdone in their preparation," he said.

"We had a little bit more time this time around and we saw a fair few or of our guys up and running and raring to go."

Hardwick called for patience, noting Richmond's vastly changed playing list and coaching staff, saying it was a "young developing side" against a "top-four calibre side".

He said one positive was that the gamestyle started to click in the last term, but acknowledged they were totally outclassed to that point.

"We just literally couldn't get our hands on the ball," he said.

"I think we were down by 100 possessions at halftime and that's the way it stayed.

"The quality of players of Mitchell, Sewell and Hodge, if you allow them first use of the ball you're going to struggle to keep up.

"We've just got to keep working hard, we've got five weeks to get our game up and going by round one."

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