Sam Mitchell expects the presence of Mitch Lewis to give his Hawthorn side further confidence to attack after the key forward's eye-catching AFL comeback.

Lewis played his first game of the year at any level in Saturday night's 29-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs, having overcome a knee injury.

The 24-year-old was dangerous in the forward-line but wayward in front of goal, kicking 1.4 from 16 disposals and 11 marks.

"When you watched him bounce around in the first part of the game you (saw) this guy was definitely ready to play," Mitchell said.

"I was really pleased with his performance and our medical team to get him ready to play in that manner in his first game back."

The Hawks, last on the ladder and the lowest-scoring side in the competition, got three goals out of veteran forward Luke Breust against the Bulldogs and used Lewis as their main marking target in attack.

But their attack is still a work in progress after they kicked just two goals after halftime in the 14.10 (94) to 9.11 (65) defeat.

"We've had to try to find a way to create goals and you do what we do with a little bit more confidence when (Lewis) is there," Mitchell said.

"There were a couple of options where I thought that was an unusual kick and then you saw that it was Mitch Lewis on the end of it.

"He gives us a contest and quite often a mark. He just gives us a bit of confidence going forward, which is important."

Mitchell isn't concerned about Lewis' goal-kicking despite the missed opportunities on Saturday night.

Lewis was second in the Hawks' goal-kicking last year with 37.15 and has a career tally of 85.48.

"He's a great goal-kicker, he's got a really sound technique and he's worked hard at it over a long period of time," Mitchell said.

"It didn't work for him today but it's his first game back since round 20 of last year."

Lewis will form a key part of Hawthorn's (1-6) plans to snap a four-match losing streak when they visit Fremantle (2-5) in round eight.