A fit Ben Stratton and the looming AFL return of Jarryd Roughead and Stephen Gilham has Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson relishing some increased flexibility.

Knee injuries to Gilham and Stratton robbed the Hawks of height in defence for much of last season, while Roughead’s achilles injury left them heavily reliant on Lance Franklin in attack.

But Stratton, who returned just in time for the Hawks’ finals campaign last year, looked in good touch as they opened their pre-season campaign at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

And Clarkson said Gilham and Roughead were both making quick progress and might return in the next few weeks.

“(Gilham) has been doing a lot of the training, so I wouldn’t suspect he’d be too far away,” Clarkson said.

“He’s had a really good rehab and he and Roughy trained with some of the other lads (on Friday) who didn’t play.

“They both trained very very well, so we’re really pleased with the progress they’re making.

“We’ll just work out over the next few weeks what game time they play in the lead-up to the main season.”

Having also drafted former Western Bulldogs-listed key defender Jarrad Boumann, who spent last season with the Hawks’ VFL affiliate Box Hill, Clarkson said he had plenty of tall defensive options.

Another is 21-year-old Ryan Schoenmakers, although he spent time in attack against North Melbourne on Friday night, as star forward Lance Franklin started on the wing.

Clarkson said while Coleman Medallist Franklin would again be mostly stationed in attack this season, the Hawks wanted to ensure their forward line was not one-dimensional.

The return of Roughead should help give Franklin the opportunity to roam further afield at times, but Clarkson said he was still at his most threatening in attack.

“He’s a very, very talented forward for us, so it’s not like we’re going to take him away from that area of the ground too often.”