STAND-IN skipper Jordan Lewis led from the front in Hawthorn's 46-point win against Richmond on Friday night.

After a couple of quiet weeks by his own lofty standards, Lewis was back to his best against the Tigers.

With 28 disposals, seven clearances and seven tackles, the star midfielder was in the thick of the action.

He said the Hawks' game-plan clicked a bit better than it had the previous week.

"We worked pretty well in that first half – it seemed like we were moving the ball quite well, but just silly turnovers cost us easy goals," Lewis told Channel 7 post-game.

"We controlled the ball well, the defensive side of our game certainly picked up in the second half and we were able to get some easy goals out the back."

With the likes of Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead, Sam Mitchell and James Frawley on the sidelines, it was a big opportunity for the Hawks' younger brigade to stand tall.

Lewis said the side knows it still hasn't played its best football this season, but can see the improvement.

"We know within the four walls of the club that we probably haven’t been playing our best football," he said.

"We’ve probably started later than most sides every single year for the last three years, so we do have a bit of a scratchy start like we did last year, but it seems like tonight we sort of hit out straps."