HAWTHORN has started its 2024 campaign in style, recording its highest score in club history, winning by 38 points over Carlton in Frankston on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking post-match, Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster shared about his reaction for the first time coaching the side.

“It’s obviously fantastic” Webster said. “We put in a lot of the work over the pre-season to get to this point. I thought the way the players performed today was awesome, especially in tricky conditions as well.”

Webster also gave an insight into his approach to the game with the conditions.

“The wind was favouring one end. It was important when we were going against it how we were going to not only defend the ground, but score. We were able to kick a couple of goals into the breeze, which is massive in these games. It just makes it harder throughout, but I thought we adapted really well.”

When trying to get that score, Webster said that the focus was more the process than the result.

“We don’t talk too much about the scoring result, it’s more about the process and what we need to do to try get the result,” he said. “Even today was so hard, we still butchered a few going that way. In tricky conditions on a hard deck. We talk more bout the process and the results take care of themselves.”

The Hawks’ boss praised the influence about Aine McDonagh and Aileen Gilroy and how important those two players are to the Hawk’s forward structure.

“Aine is a leader for us down there and is very good at setting other people up,” Webster said. “The way Gilly plays is she’s so hard at it … They’re two very influential players and set the tone for us down there which makes the job for the others a lot easier.”

Webster hopes that his team can have a well-rounded game style moving forward.

“We want to be good in all assets of the game,” he said. “The good thing I was pleased with today is how we adapted to not only the conditions but the ground, it’s a bit longer and skinnier, so you have to move the ball a different way. When we get on bigger and wider grounds, it gives you more opportunities to set the ground slightly different. We definitely want to be a team that is good at both and both linked together as well.”

Webster was really pleased with his side’s scoring capability and the fact that it was a reflection of how hard his charges had worked.

“It’s a nice thing for everyone,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that goes into it from a lot of people. That goes back to the last two years as well the amount of work that everyone’s done to set the list up and the work Bec’s put in around the culture.

“We’re moving into that next phrase hopefully and we want to be a team that can move up the ladder, win games and play like this. It’s the next part of our evolution that we’re trying to achieve as a football club.”