For the Tigers, Dustin Martin – taken with the third pick overall in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft – slotted seamlessly into senior football as he led the Tigers with 26 disposals, dual club champion Brett Deledio worked hard through the middle with Daniel Connors, Andrew Collins and Shane Edwards, while down back, rookie David Gourdis showed promise.

Hardwick said he was pleased with the Tigers’ second half, but that the result changed nothing at Punt Rd.

“We’re a young developing side, and Hawthorn are a top-four calibre side, and we’re a fair way off them at this stage,” he said.

“Look, nothing’s changed – we know exactly where we’re at.

“We’ve got to plan for the future, we know where we’re headed, but it’s going to take some time.”

With the Hawks still being without excitement machine Rioli and former Port Power player Burgoyne, the signs are ominous for the other teams eyeing a top-eight finish.

Once Hawthorn found the go pedal it was game over, leading by 38 at the first change, 72 at the half and 12 at the final break.

The Tigers had two injuries, with newcomer Ben Nason injuring a knee, and Adam Thomson taking a knee to the back of the head in a marking contest.

Hawthorn will play the winner of Sunday’s Western Bulldogs/Brisbane Lions clash at Etihad Stadium on February 26, while Richmond will play on the NAB Challenge circuit.

Hawthorn       0.7.3   2.10.7   3.15.11   3.16.12 (135)
Richmond      0.1.1   0.2.1     0.4.2      0.9.8 (62)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals: Breust, Mitchell, Roughead  Goals: Franklin 5, Roughead 2, Hodge 2, Ellis, Moss, Mitchell, Suckling, Lisle, Shiels, Schoenmakers
Richmond: Nine-point goals: Nil  Goals: Riewoldt 3, Nahas 2, Polak, Astbury, Hislop, Morton

BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Roughead, Ellis
Richmond: Martin, Deledio, Connors, Gourdis, Edwards, Collins

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nason (hyper-extended knee), Thomson (knee to head),

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ryan, Grun, Richie

Official crowd: 11,217 at Aurora Stadium