Before the start of their AFL premiership defence, Alastair Clarkson stressed the need for younger Hawthorn players to develop and strengthen the team.

The Hawks know the lesser lights will go a long way to determining whether they make the top four again.

A 20-year-old delisted at the end of last season has emphasised the value of those second- and third-tier players.

Garry Moss kicked four goals and put in a strong case for this week's Rising Star nomination as Hawthorn beat West Coast by three goals on Saturday night in Launceston.

It was only Moss's fifth senior game since he joined Hawthorn in the 2006 national draft.

After delisting him, the Hawks brought him back as a rookie and the East Perth recruit thrived against the Eagles.

Clarkson said players such as Moss, Jarryd Morton, Brendan Whitecross, premiership ruckman Brent Renouf, Beau Dowler and Cameron Stokes had delighted the Hawks so far this season.

Their contributions are particularly important as Hawthorn slowly recover from their early-season injury problems.

"We haven't started the season in the manner we'd like in terms of win-loss, but the emergence of some of these lads ... who are getting regular game time, those guys are getting fantastic exposure to the level.

"They're all acquitting themselves pretty well and look like they're going to be players for the future.

"Moss, in a game like (last) night, when there's only 18 goals scored and he's kicked four of them, it's a pretty special effort by the kid."

After managing just one kick last weekend in the surprise loss to Port Adelaide, Jarryd Roughead also kicked four goals.

Clarkson had felt no need to talk to Roughead about a rare poor performance.

"It's only going to add to the haemorrhage if I jump on his back as well," he said.

The injury run continued as Clinton Young hurt his hamstring, but Hawthorn were able to bolster their depleted defence by playing Sam Mitchell off half-back and ruckman Robert Campbell as a tall defender.

While Eagles coach John Worsfold was unimpressed with the physical attention handed out to midfielder Daniel Kerr, there was also a lot to please him.

West Coast hit the front at the start of the final term and had two more scoring shots overall.

They were a far cry from the rabble that St Kilda smashed by 97 points only a fortnight ago and Worsfold is justifiably bullish about next weekend's Western Derby.

"We're in pretty good form ... we're pretty happy with the squad we'll have available," he said.

Eagles midfielder Adam Selwood is on report for forceful and front-on contact against Chance Bateman, who did a superb tagging job on Kerr.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP