Updated
A Hawthorn fan was evicted from Launceston's Aurora Stadium for abusing North Melbourne's Sudanese-born AFL player Majak Daw.
The incident happened during the third quarter of Friday night's preseason game, which Hawthorn won by 65 points.
Fans sitting near the Hawthorn supporter alerted authorities and he was escorted from the stadium within minutes, the league's website reported.
The fan also has a young boy with him. It is not known if the abuse was racial.
Two fans were evicted for racially abusing Daw during an AFL game between North and Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium in 2013.
The ruck/forward was also taunted by a Hawthorn fan last year and in 2011 a Port Melbourne supporter was evicted from North Port Oval for racial abuse.
Racial vilification at the football in any form is offensive and totally unacceptable - not just to the target of the vilification, but also to all players and supporters.
Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox
The Hawks immediately launched an investigation into the incident.
"Hawthorn FC is investigating if a man escorted from Aurora Stadium tonight for racially abusing Majak Daw is a club member," chief executive Stuart Fox said.
"We would remind all members, supporters and footy fans that Hawthorn Football Club has a zero tolerance approach towards anyone who racially vilifies a player, official or patron.
"Racial vilification at the football in any form is offensive and totally unacceptable - not just to the target of the vilification, but also to all players and supporters."
On the field, defending premiers Hawthorn started brilliantly and never looked back, winning 18.10 (118) to 7.11 (53).
Liam Shiels, Tim O'Brien and young midfielder Will Langford kicked three goals each while veteran defender/onballer Sam Mitchell was instrumental in setting up scoring opportunities.
The pace of Hawthorn's Bradley Hill was also too much for the flat-footed Kangaroos.
Hawthorn kicked with the breeze in the opening term and soared to a five-goal lead at quarter-time, 6.2 (38) to 1.2 (8).
Shiels scored three goals in the first term as the Hawks put North's defence under constant pressure.
North started the second term strongly and made plenty of attacking thrusts but still found themselves trailing by 30 points at half-time after both sides kicked 2.3 in the second term.
The Hawks, who had more than doubled North's tally of inside-50s by three-quarter time, went 50 points clear at the final change after kicking five goals to North's two in the third term.
Another five goals to North's two in the last quarter handed the Hawks a comfortable win.
Langford, who has played only one senior game, had the better of his duel with North's vice-captain Jack Ziebell.
Son of champion Hawthorn full-back Chris Langford, the 21-year-old Will gathered 19 disposals.
Ziebell and Ryan Bastinac, who were in such good form in North's previous game against Carlton, were ineffective on Friday night.
Big Aaron Black kicked three of North's seven goals while Ben Cunnington, Daniel Wells and ex-Saint Nick Dal Santo were busy in midfield.
The Kangaroos, who aim to surge back into finals contention in 2014, have lost both their preseason games.
North were beaten by Carlton by seven points on February 15, while Hawthorn thumped Brisbane by 131 points on February 13.
Hawthorn will play a practice game against Melbourne at Casey Fields on March 8 and North face Geelong at Simonds Stadium a day earlier.
AAP
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, launceston-7250, tas, hawthorn-3122, north-melbourne-3051, vic, australia
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