Early in Hawthorn's 104-point AFL slaughter of Melbourne at the MCG, one aspect of the game stood out above all else.

Every time Melbourne had possession - which was not often - the Hawks had the look of a well-drilled, professional team destined for more serious finals action.

The Hawks immediately formed defensive zones that strangled the life out of the Demons, forcing them wide and ultimately into turnovers that usually led to Hawthorn goals.

The 23.16 (154) to 6.14 (50) massacre was no one-off - Hawthorn are good and Melbourne are in massive trouble.

"Never in your preparation for a game do you anticipate that (it) is going to open up like it did in the second half," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"We were really pleased with our endeavours and efforts, we set the pattern for the game early on.

"But it's round one. I know you're going to expect that I will be trying to play down things a little bit, but we've got a long way to go.

"We've got a six-day break and we play Fremantle on the rebound at Subiaco Oval, we've got to try to move on as quickly as we can from this game."

Lance Franklin kicked six goals and captain Sam Mitchell had 34 possessions to lead the rout.

The Hawks looked slightly vulnerable heading into the match, given key players Luke Hodge, Shane Crawford, Jordan Lewis and Campbell Brown are suspended and Mark Williams was a late withdrawal.

But Darwin pair Cyril Rioli and Cameron Stokes were poised in their AFL debuts and Stuart Dew immediately repaid the faith that Clarkson showed in him when he coaxed the Port Adelaide premiership player out of a year's retirement.

Dew kicked two goals in his comeback match and, more importantly, delivered the ball superbly to the Hawks' dangerous trio of key forwards - Franklin, Tim Boyle and Jarryd Roughead.

Dew's lethal 50m passes loom as a key feature of the Hawks game plan.

The only setback for the Hawks was the wrist injury to key defender Trent Croad.

He went to hospital, but was discharged within a few hours and the Hawks are unsure whether it is a break or a dislocation.

Croad was forced out of the game early in the first term and ruckman Robert Campbell filled in well as David Neitz's opponent.

While the Hawks were disciplined, poised and skilled, the Demons at this stage have a long, painful season ahead.

Not even four goals in the last term could diminish the magnitude of the disgrace.

It was the worst-possible way for Melbourne to open their 150th-birthday season and for Dean Bailey to start his senior coaching career.

"We allowed Hawthorn to play a free-running, open, uncontested game and we actually contributed to that," Bailey said.

The Hawks will regain Brown and Hodge from suspension for next Saturday's Fremantle game.

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