Now, in an ominous sign for the Hawks' flag rivals, they're finding success in other gears as they chase their best start to a season in more than a decade.
After holding firm to resist Sydney's opening-round fightback attempt, the Hawks outlasted Essendon in a contest coach Sam Mitchell conceded they probably should not have won.
Emerging midfielder Cam Mackenzie has taken it as a positive sign ahead of a blockbuster clash with under-fire Carlton at the MCG on Thursday night.
"We definitely had moments where we showed what we wanted to do, and others where we didn't execute exactly what we planned," Mackenzie said of last Friday's 26-point win over the Bombers.
"But we're just happy we were able to fight it out and attack their pressure and overpower them in the end.
"It's a great feeling and shows we've got more strings to our bow now.
"We know we can win when we're really up and going but also we can grind it out and get the job done, so that is very promising."
Mackenzie also impressed on an individual level in his 36th AFL game, gathering 21 disposals against Essendon in his first outing under Friday night lights in Melbourne.
It was one of eight standalone fixtures the Hawks have scheduled before their mid-season bye, in a reward for taking the mantle as the competition's great entertainers last year.
"It was an amazing feeling being able to play in front of a crowd like that," Mackenzie said after more than 80,000 fans showed up to watch the Hawks-Bombers battle.
"I loved it and looking forward we want to be in these big games.
"We've got aspirations to play finals and play in big games, so it's great to get a feel for what those games are like.
"We've shown now - by winning a final last year and also these first two games - that we can do it.
"There's still a lot of room to improve on, but it's promising."
Hawthorn can make it three wins in a row to start a season for the first time since 2014 - in the midst of the Alastair Clarkson-led premiership hattrick - when they take on Carlton.
The Blues, widely considered to be in their premiership window, are stinging after throwing away a 41-point lead in their first-up defeat to lowly Richmond.
"It's huge and we know they'll bring the heat as well," Mackenzie said.
"I'm sure they'll be disappointed with how (round one) went and they'll definitely want to bounce back.
"We've got to be ready and I'm sure we will be."
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