After a nervous start batting at the top of the order, the left hander has made nearly 200 runs in four one-day games at an average of 48.

He looked set to score his senior maiden century on his 20th birthday before he was out on 93 in the last over of the match against Essendon.

Batting at three and four last year, Tormey said he "reluctantly" agreed to open this year at the suggestion of his coach Wendall Perumal.

"He [Perumal] said opening would help further my cricket, and put my name out there as an opener, and give me more opportunities to play at state level.

"My first game opening, I batted a bit slowly trying to work out what to do, and after speaking to a few people afterwards, I decided to play my natural game, play my shots and be positive, and it has paid off."

Following scores of 53 and 48, Tormey looked set to notch up his first senior Premier Cricket century against Essendon on his birthday.

"I needed 10 off the last over to get my hundred so I just went for it but unfortunately it didn't come off. Scoring my my senior ton would have been a great birthday present.

"I got off to a good start but they bowled well in the middle overs and we lost a few quick wickets and I had to go back into my shell a little bit."

Tormey, who at 16 was Premier Cricket's youngest thirds captain, said he had no illusions about what faced the young, inexperienced Hawks this season after the club was fined and banned from having any professional players for breaching Cricket Victoria's finance and governance rules last year.

"It will be tough but good in the long run for the club to have young blokes coming up against hardened, experienced Premier cricketers, and state and Test players.

"We will learn a lot and gain experience for the future. I was thrown into it at 16 and I think it helps you.

"This year will be all about learning and developing, and about earning back the respect of the competition and becoming a club to be reckoned with in the future.