Hawks captain Ben Cooksen had no hesitation in having a bat against Essendon on a typically flat Windy Hill wicket.

Eric Karageorgiou (6) failed but Tormey (93 off 134 balls) took up the attack and found willing support in Rohan Wight (53 from 94 balls).

At 1-133 the Hawks were in a solid position to push past 200.

But a consistent stream of wickets fell after Tormey departed and the Hawks crawled to 7-196. Matthew Brooks looked good before falling for a run-a-ball 12, and Aaron Dragwidge closed out the innings with 17, albeit from 32 balls when the slog was on.

Still, the Hawks had posted their highest score, and a total that it could have some confidence of defending.

Dale Christie made the early breakthrough, but the key wicket was that of Victorian and former Australian Test player Chris Rogers (30). This came through the improving Cam Doherty with a catch in the covers.

Unfortunately, the injury curse that felled leg-spinner Matt Hewat and opening quick Lukas Hoogenboom this year struck again, with star left armer Rod Bird going down in his fifth over.

The depleted attack battled on manfully, but Craig Berger (65 not out) and Ben Fletcher (68) were too good. That pair has played more Premier first XI games than the entire Hawthorn team combined.

Best of the Hawks bowlers were Christie (1-35) and Doherty (2-38). Twenty-two balls and six wickets was the end margin, but with each game the Hawks appear to take a couple of steps forward.