HAWTHORN president Andrew Newbold has promised to 'Hawthornise' home games in 2015.

Speaking at the club's family day at Glenferrie Oval, Newbold said the renewed emphasis on the fan experience would see the Hawks work hard to create a colourful experience for members and supporters, with light shows and promotions such as 'bring a friend for free' games.

"What will be very clear when you turn up to a home game you will know you will be at a Hawthorn home game," Newbold said.

Hawthorn opens the season with a home match at the MCG against modern-day rivals Geelong.

It plays six home games at the MCG, one at Etihad Stadium and four in Tasmania at Launceston's Aurora Stadium in 2015.

With the club shooting for three premierships in succession, Newbold said the Hawks would need to make tough decisions to remain competitive.

Having expressed fears about the effect of equalisation measures on Hawthorn, he said he was motivated to guard against the club ever returning to the situation it found itself in 1996 when it staved off a proposed merger with Melbourne.

But he said the club did not shy away from the objective of competitive balance.

"We welcome a tough competition. We welcome an equal competition. We want the other sides to be strong so when we turn up to watch games they are good games of football," Newbold said.

Having averted that merger crisis, the club has become one of the competition's superpowers with Newbold announcing they had already signed on 64,417 members for 2015.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said Brendan Bolton, who coached Hawthorn for five wins when Clarkson was ill in 2014, would be the senior coach for the final NAB Challenge game against St Kilda on Thursday night.