Dean Bailey has endured a nightmare coaching debut as his Melbourne side surrendered to a Hawthorn team missing five of its best players at the MCG on Sunday.
The Demons produced one of the most spiritless, embarrassing performances witnessed by an AFL club in the opening match of the season for years as Hawthorn cruised to a 23.16 (154) to 6.14 (50) victory.
For a club already suffering with the lowest membership of any Victorian-based club and badly needing an on-field boost, the result was a disaster.
The Demons might have been missing Jared Rivers, Colin Sylvia, Clint Bartram, Matthew Bate and Ben Holland but those absentees paled compared to the Hawks being without suspended quartet Shane Crawford, Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown and Jordan Lewis and star forward Mark Williams, who was a late withdrawal due to a knee injury.
Yet the Demons could manage just one goal to half-time and two to three-quarter-time in one of their worst ever first round performances.
Not even the loss of full-back Trent Croad after just five minutes with a broken wrist - an injury which could sideline him for up to six weeks - could stop the Hawks, who simply feasted on an opposition that was below AFL standard.
The Hawks led by 25 points after just 18 minutes and by 41 points at half-time, even though they had managed just four more inside 50's than Melbourne at that stage and only four more marks and 24 more possessions.
But such was Melbourne's inability to even do the basics - such as find team-mates by hand or foot - that the Hawks were able to capitalise on numerous Demons' turnovers.
Melbourne's key player such as forwards David Neitz and Aaron Davey had no impact on the game nor did Jeff White, Adem Yze, Aaron Davey and Cameron Bruce as it was left to youngsters Nathan Jones and Simon Buckley to battle against the odds.
The Hawks had been tipped as one of the favourites to win the flag pre-season but it was hard to tell if this lop-sided result was more due to the quality of Alastair Clarkson's team or the pathetic performance of Bailey's team.
But there were positives galore for the Hawks with star forward Lance Franklin helping himself to six goals while late replacement Michael Osborne booted three.
And their midfield - despite missing Hodge and Crawford - was unstoppable with Chance Bateman playing one of his best games for the club while skipper Sam Mitchell won the ball at will and Grant Birchall and Brent Guerra set up countless attacks out of defence.
The Hawks' three new boys - former Port star Stuart Dew and first gamers Cyril Rioli and Cameron Stokes - all had debuts to remember with all three getting amongst the goals as they booted five second half goals between them.
HAWTHORN: 5.5, 7.10, 15.12, 23.16 (154)
MELBOURNE: 1.1, 1.5, 2.10, 6.14 (50)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 6, Roughead 3, Osborne 3, Boyle 2, Dew 2, Stokes 2, Campbell 2, Young, Taylor, Rioli
Melbourne: Robertson 3, Green 2, Newton
BEST: Hawthorn: Bateman, Franklin, Mitchell, Birchall, Osborne, Young, Dew, Sewell, Taylor, Campbell
Melbourne: Green, Jones, Buckley
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Croad (wrist)
Melbourne: Nil
UMPIRES: Farmer, Kennedy, M Nicholls
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Hawthorn: Williams (knee) replaced in selected side by Osborne
CROWD: 40,141 at MCG
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3 – Chance Bateman (Hawthorn)
2 – Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
1 – Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)