The Lions have won their past four against the Hawks - a feat only matched by Richmond - and have done so with two wins at a ground known to be the most secure fortress in the AFL.

MATCH REPORT: Lions get job done in Launceston

Not since West Coast in 2004 and 2005 had a team defeated Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium twice in a row, and Fagan believes it's down to pre-season in 2017 and 2018.

"In some way it's a ground we're familiar with because my first two years as coach we came down here for eight or nine days and had training camps here," Fagan said.

"So we're accustomed to this ground and my three years of coaching Brisbane we've always been sent down here to play so there's a little bit of familiarity with it I guess.

"That helps the guys and they probably don't view the ground as something to be feared as much as other teams might."

On a perfect winter's day, Launceston topped 15,000 spectators for the second time this season with under-15 national football championship sides helping boost the total to 15,157.

The crowd was treated to the comical on several occasions - first when Hawks ruckman Jon Ceglar kicked to a teammate running off the ground only for Jack Gunston to emerge from the interchange just in time to take the mark.

Later in the contest Grant Birchall responded to a bone-jarring marking contest by giving former teammate Luke Hodge a friendly jab in the groin.

But there was also plenty of class on show - not least from 372-gamer Shaun Burgoyne.

Joining Adam Goodes as the AFL's joint Indigenous games record holder, the 36-year-old completed a vintage rove and goal in the first term before following it up with a dummy and left-foot goal on the run early in the second.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was happy to sing the praises of his multiple-premiership star, who collected 18 touches and at times looked the Hawks' most likely chance of getting into the game.

"He's an ornament of the game really," Clarkson said.

"I was looking at the top 10 Indigenous players, Peter Matera who was an absolute jet, he played 253.

"Shaun's played 120 more than Roo Matera played which is extraordinary.

"The single most significant thing that's happened to our game in its 130-year history is the injection of indigenous talent and Shaun's at the top of the tree now with Goodesy in terms of the most times an Aboriginal boy has represented a club in AFL footy.

"He'll go down as a highly decorated footballer, certainly from the Indigenous side of things, but overall ... Shaun Burgoyne is going to be up there and he ain't finished yet."

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