Another record-breaking game from Tom Mitchell has propelled Hawthorn to an emphatic 34-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.

Mitchell collected 54 disposals to surpass the previous individual best of 53 held by Gary Ablett and Greg Williams, to again put the Magpies to the sword after his 50-possession game against them in round nine last year.

As the Hawks signalled their intention to march back into finals contention in 2018 with the 15.11 (101) to 9.13 (67) win, the Pies again had no answers for Mitchell as he motored to another prolific performance.

He wasn't alone; Jaeger O'Meara collected 27 possessions in another encouraging outing, Luke Breust kicked four goals and Jack Gunston celebrated his 150th game and return to attack with two majors and three scoring assists.

And, Cyril Rioli only had 14 touches after starting on the bench in his first game since round eight last year, but he used them to show glimpses of his old brilliance.

The Hawks blasted the Magpies with a six-goal-to-three second quarter to open up a 27-point lead at half-time and didn't look back from there as they cruised to an opening round victory.

The only blow for the Hawks was a game-ending ankle injury to defender Ryan Burton in the second quarter.

While the Hawks were a cut above in class and ball movement, it was more of the same for the Magpies as they failed time and time again to make use of momentum swings.

Some new moves paid off with Ben Crocker their most effective forward, Darcy Moore pulling down eight marks in defence and debutants Sam Murray and Jaidyn Stephenson showing positive signs.

But Mason Cox (six disposals) struggled for effectiveness as a forward option, Travis Varcoe was quiet and their leading possession-winner – Adam Treloar with 32 – moved the ball with just 40 per cent efficiency.

The first quarter was played at breakneck pace and the Pies were in the contest, with Ben Reid presenting well in attack, Tom Phillips moving the ball well and Moore looking settled.

But Mitchell and O'Meara got on top in the second quarter turnaround, before the Pies offered a late rally that saw them whittle a 39-point three-quarter time margin to 23 points in the last term.

HAWTHORN         4.4 10.7 13.9 15.11 (101)
COLLINGWOOD   3.4  6.4   7.6   9.13   (67)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 4, Burgoyne 2, Gunston 2, Henderson 2, Smith, Shiels, Rioli, Schoenmakers, Roughead
Collingwood: Crocker 2, Reid, Howe, Hoskin-Elliott, Sidebottom, Aish, Moore, Thomas

BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Sicily, O'Meara, Gunston, Smith, Breust
Collingwood: Sidebottom, Treloar, Crocker, Pendlebury, Murray, Stephenson

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Burton (left ankle), McEvoy (corked thigh)
Collingwood: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Nicholls, Fleer, Mollison

Official crowd: 58,051 at the MCG