The Demons looked in trouble at three-quarter time, but last year's preliminary finalists kicked clear on Thursday night at Ikon Park and won 9.6 (60) to 6.5 (41).
The round-one clash was the first time Melbourne's women have not been coached by Mick Stinear, who is now in charge at Geelong, with Tom Wilson making the perfect start to his AFLW coaching career.
Liv Purcell returned from the knee reconstruction that kept her to only two games last season and she was best afield, racking up 32 possessions and nine tackles.
Recruited from Carlton, Austin was outstanding and looks the ideal replacement for Eden Zanker, now at Fremantle.
Melbourne captain Kate Hore also starred, but goalkicking let her down and she finished with a wasteful 1.4.
The Hawks rallied after a slow start as they unveiled their key-forward double act, with former Gold Coast player Jacqueline Dupuy joining All-Australian Aine McDonagh.
Dupuy took nine marks and kicked a goal, while McDonagh made a strong start with three majors.
Hawthorn defender Jenna Richardson, who took 11 marks, and ruck Lucy Wales impressed.
With Hore, Tayla Harris and Purcell firing, the Dees threatened to kill off the game early.
Melbourne kicked the first three goals of the game and were up by 23 late in the opening term.
But Dupuy kicked her first for the Hawks to keep them within 17 points at the first change.
The game flipped in the second, as Dupuy and McDonagh fired in attack. Hawthorn kicked three goals to one and only trailed by seven points at the main break.
Jacinta Hose's long-overdue AFLW debut ended in more pain for the Demons' ruck when she was forced out of the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Hose was drafted in 2023, but two knee reconstructions have stalled her career.
When McDonagh kicked the only goal of the third quarter, the Hawks led for the first time in the game and scores were tied at the final change.
But Austin kicked her fourth goal at the start of the last quarter and Elizabeth McNamara added another a couple of minutes later to steady for Melbourne.
While Shelley Heath goaled 11 minutes into the term, the Demons had a three-goal break and the game was over.
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