North Melbourne's 2022 season has started in disappointment as Hawthorn came from behind to win by 20 points at the MCG.

With the Hawks fielding their youngest side since 2005, Jack Gunston and Mitch Lewis feasted on an undermanned and undersized North Melbourne defence to hand new coach Sam Mitchell the perfect start to his career.

Playing their first game in 18 years without four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson at the helm, the Hawks overturned a 21-point deficit to run out 11.12 (78) to 8.10 (58) winners in what was a highly entertaining affair at a sun-baked MCG.

HAWKS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

The Roos made much of the early running, with Jy Simpkin registering the first goal within the first minute of the game.

North Melbourne took a one-point margin into quarter time, before extending the gap beyond three goals during the second term.

Last year’s No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis snapped a classy goal from 30 metres out – his first at AFL level - with 10 minutes remaining before half-time, as the Roos looked to break the game open.

But late goals to Gunston and Dylan Moore cut the margin to just seven points at the main break.

The Hawks were dominant in the third quarter, but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard, kicking three goals to one, as Lewis (three goals) and Gunston (three goals) continued to wreak havoc.

Hawthorn’s experienced players came to the fore when the game was up for grabs, with Chad Wingard, who was largely unsighted for three quarters, kicking two important majors within two minutes in the early stages of the final term to gift the Hawks some breathing space.

Exciting Hawks defender Changkuoth Jiath was arguably best afield. The 22-year-old gathered 24 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency, took five marks, had nine intercept possessions and sent the ball inside 50 on three occasions.

The Kangaroos never gave up the fight, but an early injury to key back Ben McKay left them exposed in the defensive half. McKay was replaced by Charlie Lazzaro soon after quarter-time, after being ruled out with concussion.

The Hawks’ win is their fifth consecutive round one triumph, while the Roos have now posted just one of its past six opening encounters.

Best and fastest

22 seconds was all the time best and fairest winner Jy Simpkin needed to swing onto his left boot and set the season rolling. Unfortunately Nick Larkey's goal was the Roos' only other reward before quarter time as Tristan Xerri, Cam Zurhaar and Horne-Francis missed opportunities to capitalise on a bright start, and Curtis Taylor had a goal overruled thanks to a Hawk defender's fingernail on the line.

The early blow

Ben McKay played all 22 games at the heart of the Kangaroo defence last season, but his round one was cut short inside the first term. The big defender copped a knee to the head in a marking contest and was replaced by medical sub Charlie Lazzarro after quarter time. With a Josh Kennedy-shaped challenge awaiting the backline in next week's game against the Eagles, the Roos will need McKay's teammates to step up.

No.1 for No.1

Jason Horne-Francis could have had his first career goal before quarter time, but the North faithful didn't have to wait long to see the club's first ever No.1 draft pick open his account. Larkey's strength in the tackle set up the chance, and Horne-Francis curled home off a step from 35m. While his mum wiped away a tear in the stands, the pile-on from his Kangaroo teammates underlined the excitement he's brought to the group in his short time at Arden St. The South Australian drifted out of the match, finishing with 13 possessions, but he did enough to prove he is comfortable at the elite level.

What's next?

The Kangaroos host West Coast in front of the North faithful at Marvel Stadium in Round 2. Coach David Noble will look for a more disciplined performance after a series of costly errors against the Hawks, and he will need to structure his defence without Ben McKay, who will miss due to concussion protocols. The opening bounce is at 1.10pm AEDT on Sunday.

HAWTHORN                   2.4     4.7     7.9     11.12 (78)
NORTH MELBOURNE     2.5     5.8    6.8      8.10 (58)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Lewis 3, Gunston 3, Wingard 2, Maginness, Moore, Newcombe
North Melbourne: Larkey 2, Simpkin 2, Goldstein 2, Horne-Francis, Mahony

BEST
Hawthorn: Jiath, Gunston, Mitchell, Lewis, Sicily, Moore
North Melbourne: McDonald, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Hall

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Lynch (concussion), Ward (ankle)
North Melbourne: Polec (ankle) replaced in selected side by Powell, McKay (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Tom Phillips (replaced Max Lynch)
North Melbourne: Charlie Lazzaro (replaced Ben McKay)

Crowd: 38,279 at the MCG