Sweet revenge: Hawks edge Lions in season opener

In an enthralling clash of two premiership aspirants for Season 10 of the AFLW, the Hawthorn Hawks held on in a nailbiter, beating last year's runners-up, the Brisbane Lions, by four points at the Brighton Homes Arena.

Hawthorn, who played finals for the first time in their short AFLW history last season, were looking to extract revenge on the Lions, who had defeated them in the qualifying final by a goal last year.

Hawthorn head coach Daniel Webster had flagged when he spoke to Zero Hanger in the lead-up to round one that the Hawks were looking forward to starting their season off with a challenge and had the team primed for the blockbuster clash.

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The Hawks, without influential trio Mackenzie Eardley, Aileen Gilroy and Jenna Richardson, started the contest strongly, controlling territory but were unable to convert on the scoreboard, kicking four points before the Lions kicked the first goal of the day through Taylor Smith.

Former Lion, now Hawk, Greta Bodey, got the Hawks on the board before Dakota Davidson kicked the Lions' second and gave them a narrow four-point lead at quarter time.

The Hawks kicked the only two goals of the second quarter, with Aine McDonagh and Casey Sheriff, putting the Hawks in front at the main break as both sides struggled to maintain momentum in a game befitting a finals-like atmosphere and intensity.

A see-sawing third quarter saw both teams struggle to convert opportunities, as the pressure gauge went up a notch, with both defensive units holding firm in a goalless term.

The last quarter saw the Hawks kick the first, through Aine McDonagh's second for the game, which gave them a handy buffer, but the Lions were not to be deterred, with an Ellie Hampson goal narrowing the margin early in the last.

The Lions peppered at the Hawthorn goals for the remainder of the last quarter, throwing wave after wave of attacking pressure.

However, the Hawks' backline stood firm and refused to wilt, holding on grimly to the narrowest of margins, as the Hawks recorded their first win against Brisbane in the competition, and a measure of sweet revenge after last year's agonising qualifying finals loss.

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Vice-captain Eliza West, who played her 50th career AFLW game, led the way for the Hawks on the day, as she took it to the Brisbane midfield.

West recorded 25 disposals, four clearances, six tackles, seven intercept possessions and two score involvements as she went to work at the coalface and was influential in the Hawks getting many looks at goals through her forward 50 entries.

West was ably assisted by former captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd, who was superb for the Hawks and led the possession count with 27 disposals as they mopped up in defence and helped thwart the Lions' attacking raids.

Emily Everist and Ainslie Kemp were influential in defence, as they worked in tandem to stop the dangerous Davidson from being able to impact the contest.

Without Eardley, who missed after injuring her left knee at training during the week, Irishwoman McDonagh led the Hawthorn forward line with her speed and ability to break free to find space, pivotal in her kicking two telling goals that saw the Hawks get an important win as they look to back up last year's inaugural finals series appearance.

The win on the road will give the Hawks plenty of confidence as they head into their first home game of the season, against fellow round one victors in Carlton, on Saturday night at Kinetic Stadium in Frankston.