Hawthorn Senior Coach Sam Mitchell provided insights into his team’s 51-point defeat to the Cats on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to the media after the game, Mitchell analyzed the Hawks’ performance, emphasizing that the team is still in a developmental phase and not yet the finished product.
Reflecting on the game, Mitchell acknowledged the challenge his team faced, noting their lack of recent experience at the venue. He praised the Cats as a strong side, highlighting the gap between Hawthorn and the top teams. Despite a recent good run of games, Mitchell admitted that the Hawks struggled against the Cats’ experienced lineup, particularly at the start of the game, and couldn’t find a way to recover as the game progressed.
Mitchell spoke about the ongoing growth of his group, mentioning the strategic plan that has been in place for the past two and a half years. He reiterated the focus on progression and the steps needed to reach a higher, more consistent level of performance. He acknowledged that while Hawthorn has had some recent successes, they are still striving to consistently compete with top teams like Sydney and Geelong. He pointed out the complexity of achieving this, involving player belief, confidence, personnel, and system, emphasizing that the team is getting closer but remains a work in progress.
Addressing the pressure from opposition teams, Mitchell described the difficulty of the game from a player’s perspective. He noted that while decisions may seem obvious from the coaches’ or media box, the reality on the field is much more challenging due to the noise and pressure. He emphasized the importance of making good decisions under pressure and acknowledged that while the team has shown resilience in past games, they struggled to handle the pressure against the Cats. Mitchell reiterated that the Hawks are a work in progress, continually striving to improve and reach their desired level of performance.