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Hawthorn Senior Coach Sam Mitchell provided insights into his team’s 51-point defeat to the Cats on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to the media post-game, Mitchell analyzed the Hawks’ performance, emphasizing that the team is still in a developmental phase and not yet the finished product. He acknowledged the challenge his team faced, noting their lack of recent experience at the venue and praising the Cats as a strong side. 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.

Mitchell also spoke about the ongoing growth of his group, mentioning the strategic plan in place for the past two and a half years. While the Hawks have 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, noting the challenge of making good decisions under pressure. He emphasized the importance of consistent, high-level football under any circumstance, acknowledging 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 continually striving to improve and reach their desired level of performance.