Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said he would consider directing his men from the interchange bench during the home-and-away season after adopting the method through the NAB Cup.
Clarkson bypassed the now-traditional coaching box in the stands and went to the bench during the Hawks' 57-point NAB Cup quarter-final loss to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
He said it had been beneficial in the opening round win over Richmond and against the Bulldogs in helping to develop some of the club's emerging youngsters.
"There are so many rotations, as I said we had eight to 10 young fellas that have been exposed to this level very early in their careers, it's just really good to spend some time with them and just nurture them through the best you can," Clarkson said.
"You can probably coach a bit better. You are not like a headmaster so much, overseeing everything. You are down at ground level working with the players."
While Clarkson was able to help tutor his youngsters, there appeared little that could be done to stop the rampaging Dogs who took control of the clash early.
Barry Hall was superb, drilling six goals and giving prized Hawks' recruit Josh Gibson a debut he wouldn't want to remember.
"They showed with Hall in their side that they have got the focal point, perhaps, that they have been searching for," Clarkson said.
"I don't know what to make of it, whether they were outstanding or we were a bit scratchy."
"I think it was probably a little bit of both."
The Hawks needed more from twin towers Lance Franklin (one goal) and Jarryd Roughead (two goals), but the pair wasn't helped by a lack of midfield supply.
Clarkson preferred to dwell on the likes of youngsters Jarrod Kayler-Thomson (25 possessions), defender Ben Stratton, given the job on Robert Murphy, and exciting forward Carl Peterson.
"It was great to experience that against a side that too many wouldn't think would be in the top four this year, maybe even top two and challenging for the flag," he said.