After 369 matches at the helm of Hawthorn, four-time premiership-winning coach Alastair Clarkson has used a line he probably never thought he’d say.

“Did someone mention (say) KFC?”

Following his side’s epic one-point come-from-behind win over Essendon, Clarkson was quizzed on his use of the newly introduced medical substitute.

Connor Downie was named as one of three debutants, alongside Jacob Koschitzke and Tyler Brockman for the season opening clash.

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However Downie never made it onto the ground due to Hawthorn not activating their substitute.

“Obviously you picked the three debutants, Connor Downie, doesn’t get a run in the end, how does that sit with you in terms of philosophically, a guy not playing in his debut?” a reporter asked Clarkson after the match.

“Did someone mention (say) KFC?” he replied, in reference to the fast food chain’s series of TV advertisements based around the specific tag line.

“I’ve said enough about the sub. Connor Downie will get his chance, he’s a great young kid and even though he didn’t get on the ground today he’ll get an enormous amount of benefit, going through the whole experience today,” he continued, on a more serious note.

“He’s 18 years of age, first year into our footy club - it’s the first game he could possibly play for Hawthorn whether that was in the seniors or the reserves.

“He’s a young kid in his journey and this is a pretty special day for him and his family.”

However former Essendon forward Matthew Lloyd voiced his concerns with Clarkson’s use of the rule, indicating they’d deprived Downie of a memorable debut.

"I wouldn't play a first gamer until he's ready to play in the 22, not to be the sub,” Lloyd said.

“I just think that you can recount your first game and the joy of ringing your parents, your first handball, your first touch, you get 20 tickets for your friends and family.

“Connor Downie’s done all that, but he’ll never be able to say he played a second of it.

“Imagine Jamarra Ugle-Hagan rocks up for his first game for the Dogs and he doesn’t play a second, that would be flattening. It’s no different to a guy who’s taken pick 53 in the draft.

“I’m saying don’t play him at all, Connor Downie has starred throughout the pre-season his time will come.

“I wouldn’t play a first-gamer in that situation because that’s what he’ll remember it for.”