Hawthorn players praised Sam Mitchellpractical approach to training and praised the Hawks coach for the astonishing turnaround that secured their place in the 2024 finals. Hawthorn started the season in alarming fashion after losing their first five matches, but under Mitchell they became one of the teams in good form in AFL – finishing seventh, which qualified them to play the qualifying final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday evening.

The now infamous Mitchell spray for Jack Scrimshaw in the quarter against the Swans in round seven has already been highlighted as a major turning point in Hawthorn’s season. The Hawks went from 1-6 at the time to winning 13 of their next 16 matches, with AFL star Jimmy Bartel recently noting the Scrimshaw incident and praising the “emotional intelligence” Mitchell showed as a young coach.

The 41-year-old has a habit of getting into the group of players on the training ground and that has helped players like rookie Nick Watson. Mitchell has spoken of being the only person working with Watson on his kicking to avoid overloading the young forward with advice. And the 19-year-old is averaging more than a goal per game in an impressive debut season in the AFL.

“He’s like one of the players, really,” Hawks winger Massimo D’Ambrosio said. “He comes into practice, picks up on things and tells you straight up and explains them. A lot of coaches can just tell you what you’re doing wrong, but they’ll never explain how you can get better or how you can get to that position. I think he’s really good at that.”

D’Ambrosio, who was lured by Mitchell on a two-year deal from Essendon, has transformed from a defensive playmaker at Essendon into one of the league’s best wingers. And the 21-year-old says his coach has had a huge impact on his development as a player.

“He’s been huge for me,” D’Ambrosio said. “I feel like he’s trying to get the best out of me every single week. At the beginning of the year and even now, I still have my doubts about my performances in games, but he always brings positive energy to me. I loved playing under him all year, but I’m looking forward to playing for him again.”

Sam Mitchell’s coaching approach resonates with players

Mitchell was known as an uncompromising, combative and intelligent player who consistently raised the standards of the Hawks, with whom he won four championships. And while his coaching still has much of the fire from his playing days, Mitchell also encouraged Hawthorn’s more flashy players to express themselves on the pitch and instilled in them the belief that together they could achieve something special in his third season.

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Luke Breust was Mitchell’s teammate in three of the four championships his coach won, and he says he was able to translate that winning mentality to his group of players. “Sam and I had a great relationship on the field. He was such an intelligent player,” Breust, 33, said of his coach and former teammate. “Yeah, there were times when he would yell at me when the ball was coming out of the line, that I did something wrong, or I missed the first pass or something like that. He definitely let you know.

“That fighter nature, he was so honest and he just wanted what was best for the team, and whatever it took, he was willing to do it. Has he changed? Yeah, there’s still something about him that makes him brutally honest when he needs to be. His biggest growth was allowing these guys to express themselves and be themselves in their own way, and embracing that, not suppressing it.”

The Hawks will have to face a much more experienced Bulldogs team on Friday night, given that they are without midfielders Will Day (collarbone) and Cameron Mackenzie (hamstring). But whether they keep their momentum going or fall, Mitchell’s Hawks will certainly be celebrating with gusto. “I feel like a lot of the guys believe in it and there’s no right or wrong thing to do,” D’Ambrosio said. That’s what Sam has created in this club, and nobody is judged for what they do. So it’s a great environment to be in.”

AFL Finals Week 1 Schedule:

• Second Qualifying Final: Port Adelaide vs Geelong – Thursday 5 September, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm

• Second Qualifying Final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn – Friday 6 September, MCG, 7:40pm

• First Qualifying Final: Sydney v GWS – Saturday 7 September, SCG, 3:20pm

• First Qualifying Final: Brisbane Lions vs Carlton – Saturday 7 September, Gabba, 7:30pm

from AAP