The Hawks were the popular elect at Thursday's AFL Riverina season launch with five of the six opposition clubs naming EWK as the team to beat in 2019.

The Hawks finished fourth last season but have added former AFL footballer Chris Ladhams, among others, to position themselves well for a tilt at the Farrer League flag.

Hard though, is experienced enough to know that opinions in April count for very little.

"I've been around, personally, long enough not to buy into that. That's purely opinion and their entitled to it but it's not something I'm going to lose too much sleep over," Hard said.

"You're optimistic at this time of year, you want to think that you're going alright but until we're a month or six weeks into it, I have no idea.

"I think the whole competition is a bit of an unknown at the minute and we're part of that. We're like every other team, you go in excited, hoping to play finals at the end of the year but that's as far as you can look I reckon."

Ladhams will run out in Hawks colours for the first time on Saturday at Gumly Oval.

He, along with Daniel Hitchens and Ethan Andrews are among the new faces that will debut for EWK against Coleambally.

There are a number of key Hawks that will miss the game with captain Ben Absolum unavailable, along with the returning Bryce McPherson. Key forward James Hodges is also in doubt with injury.

Hard is happy enough with how his team has come together for round one.

"It's an exciting time and it's obviously been a long pre-season so we're looking forward to getting out there and playing footy on a weekly basis," he said.

"I think we're shaping up alright but again, it's pretty hard to get a gauge until a month or six weeks into the season to see how you stack up against the opposition. The boys we pick on the weekend will be fit and ready to go so that's as far as I can go."

Coleambally were wooden spooners last season but have recruited heavily over the off-season. Hard concedes he has 'no idea' what to expect from the Blues.

"Extremely unknown. I know they've obviously recruited and picked up 10 to 12 players from what I can see and the ones you know like Curtis (Steele) can obviously play pretty well and the guys from the top end will bring a lot," he said.

"They're a complete unknown to us but we'll go out there and treat them with plenty of respect. We're looking forward to a good game of footy."

North Wagga were the other selection for Farrer League premiers.

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