Player Watch 5. Sam Mitchell

[noosa hawk mad]

Hawk eyes fixed solely on '09, says Mitchell

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTIC...x?newsId=71672

By Jason Phelan 5:25 PM Tue 03 February, 2009

Sam Mitchell tries his hand at cricket at Hawthorn's community camp in Hobart


HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell has declared his side's honeymoon is over.
The reigning premiers touched down in Hobart on Tuesday to kick off their Telstra AFL Community Camp and Mitchell said their focus was on capturing this year's flag rather than the glow of their 2008 triumph.

 

[RustyHawk]

Round 1 2009 NAB Cup.

Sam Mitchell led the Hawks to victory in the first round clash against Melbourne at Launceston on Saturday 21.02.09. This was the game won in the last 5 seconds when Jarryd Roughead kicked the winning goal and thus giving the Hawks a 3 point win.

Melbourne ruckman Paul Johnson was reported for striking Mitchell early in the 1st Quarter.

Match Review Panel

Reprimands for Clint Young, Daniel Motlop

| February 23, 2009 03:45pm

The panel dismissed Demon Paul Johnson's report for striking Hawk Sam Mitchell, saying it was not a striking motion and the high contact was minimal.

 

[Brown n Gold]

Welcome one and all.. The Hawk skipper is my man for 2009.. Couldn't work out why nobody had snapped up Sammy earlier in the ballot until I visited this thread and realised the number of articles, interviews and quotes my man will be involved in.

Any help keeping links to news articles etc up to date would be appreciated. I will be doing a weekly post match review of Sammy's performance in this thread.. and with the help of Rusty's (n friends) training reports will attempt to update all on how the little maestro is training.

Big year for the Hawks in 2009.. led by my man.. "THE EXTRACTOR" Sam #5 Mitchell.

 

[RustyHawk]

Round 1 2009 vs Geelong.

The skipper had a night against Geelong. Maybe he needs to unfurl a Premiership flag every game against these guys because he was in top form.

19 kicks, 15 handballs, 7 marks, 5 frees for, 2 against and 1 tackle showed the skipper led the way.

Difficult night for the centreman as our ruck combination of Renouf and Taylor struggled against Geelong pair Ottens and Blake.

 

[Stubz]

Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell against trend of benched midfielders

Author: Mark Stevens
Date/Time: April 08, 2009 12:00am
Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25304501-19767,00.html?from=public_rss

INDUSTRY sources suggest Sam Mitchell is on $500,000-plus at Hawthorn this year.
And the club is making him earn every cent.

Mitchell has become "Mr 100 per cent", playing every minute of both games.

It is a staggering statistic given full games are almost exclusively the domain of key forwards and defenders in this era of high bench rotations.

Only once last year did a midfielder play a full game: Fremantle's Peter Bell in Round 5.

Mitchell, amazingly, has gone back-to-back

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Just 6 touches after quarter time emphasized Kirks dominance


2009 Round 2 vs Sydney

Kicks 7
Handballs 4
Disposals 11
Marks
Tackles 4
Goals 0
Behinds0

SYDNEY SWANS 3.4 8.7 16.9 22.11 (143)
HAWTHORN 5.4 8.9 12.12 15.15 (105)

Goals
Sydney Swans: Barry Hall 4, Adam Goodes 4, Darren Jolly 3, Nick Malceski 3, Ryan O’Keefe 2, Jarrad McVeigh, Jesse White, Craig Bird, Jarred Moore, Marty Mattner, Brett Kirk
Hawthorn: Mark Williams 3, Jarryd Roughead 3, Lance Franklin 2, Jarryd Morton 2, Cameron Stokes, Campbell Brown, Cyril Rioli, Garry Moss, Stuart Dew
Best
Sydney Swans: Jarrad McVeigh, Craig Bolton, Nick Malceski, Adam Goodes, Jesse White, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Darren Jolly
Hawthorn: Xavier Ellis, Jarryd Roughead, Mark Williams, Cameron Stokes, Cyril Rioli

 

[RustyHawk]

A complement by Gerard Healy about Sam Mitchell's handball skill.

From an article in the Herald Sun 17.04.09

The need for speed is killing handball​

Gerard Healy | April 17, 2009 12:00am

THE game has gone handball happy, but one of the greatest advocates of the skill, Ron Barassi, would be very sad - in fact, he's probably very angry. The art of handball has slipped, with the rocket replaced by the "shovel" and the Barassi standard of skill execution seemingly forgotten at a time when it should be religiously followed.

Barassi, a handball fanatic, was the first coach to use the power of handball to underpin a premiership in the legendary 1970 Grand Final.

He used it as an attacking weapon to generate run, transforming the handball from a simple defensive mechanism used only when tackled.

Today handball, the primary attacking weapon used to break down zones, is breaking down itself under the extreme pressure of the modern defensive game, not so much because of the reduced time given to execute it, but more the reduced command of the skill because of a different training emphasis.

The rocket handball that spins like a drop punt has been increasingly replaced by the "shovel" - a poor imitation that has non-specific spin and lacks direction.

It is more a push than a strike, and too often misses the mark.

The rocket handball is a part of Kevin Sheedy's legacy to the game - he created then popularised it through the 1970s.

It was embraced by all players as the most lethal handball technique, and the great technicians of the craft such as Barry Cable, Greg Williams, Robert Flower, Garry Wilson, Dale Weightman and Doug Hawkins, to name a few, sliced up many defences with their accuracy by hand.

It is still used in space today, but with the advent of crushes around stoppages, it seems to have given way to the shovel under the coaching directive of "quick hands".

It's a poor compromise and falls well below the requirements of the Barassi standard, which has never been more applicable.

Given the time restraints in heavy traffic, quick hands is the priority - gaining possession and quickly shooting off a handball to get through a maze of opponents in a tight area.

But the compromise in accuracy has rendered it counter-productive too often. While there are no doubt cases where the shovel is perhaps the only option, it should remain an exception, not the rule it has become.

Under the Barassi standard, speed dominated his approach to all skills, bar set-shot goalkicking.

Applied to handball, it meant the ball was aimed at waist-high so that the receiver didn't have to waste time bringing it to that level if another quick handball was required.

Any time the receiver needed to bend, jump or slow down, deviating from the most direct route, was time wasted, so accuracy was an obsessively drilled requirement.

Barassi banned twisting or rotating the body to handball on the dominant side because it took time and too often exposed pressure from the same side.

Fundamentally, Barassi didn't believe in favouring a dominant side and thought professional footballers should be proficient on both sides of the body by hand and foot.

But the accuracy of today's kicking requirements is so demanding, it's not surprising many coaches urge players to get on their dominant side where possible, but surely this doesn't apply to handball, where all players should be equally proficient on both sides.

The Barassi mantra of "perfect practice prevents poor performance" should be reconsidered by today's skills coaches, who, some insiders suggest, are totally focused on speed. Execution is paid scant regard.

Training at senior level focuses on warp-speed repetitive handballs in and out of the hands with diminishing time between each ball.

The focus is on quick release, with the accuracy of each ball or the spin that is imparted seemingly relegated to an irrelevance.

And so in a game we get the result of this training: sloppy warp-speed handballs that are increasingly missing targets when time still allows for properly executed rockets.

A greater focus on fundamental execution is the only way to reverse the slide in the art, even from some of the greats.

Chris Judd had few perceived weaknesses when he arrived at Carlton, but one man with a good eye didn't agree, noting a glaring flaw.

Williams didn't rate Judd's handball under pressure or when he was off balance, suggesting - with typical Williams subtlety - that Judd's handball didn't match his standing in the game and it had the potential to be costly.

Judd was a good listener, and "Diesel" is an outstanding skills coach, and the result has been a great win all-round. Judd is now focused on execution as well as speed and has put away the shovel, except for emergencies.

If it's good enough for Judd to seek to improve when the flaw in his handball was pointed out, it's a timely reminder to all skills coaches that speed without accuracy is a short-sighted approach to dealing with the increased pressure of zones.

Simply put, one slightly poor handball begets another poor handball, begets a turnover. And turnovers cost goals.

The execution of a rocket should be the aim for 95 per cent of handballs, whether it be 2m or 22m, left or right hand.

Simon Black and Sam Mitchell are today's shining lights for all to follow. Even in the tightest of packs they remain, almost without exception, true to the Barassi standard.

Hopefully others will see the light and put the shovel on the road to extinction, because we all know what comes off the end of a shovel.

 

[RustyHawk]

Round 3 vs North Melbourne at the Dome Sunday 12th April 2009

Sam returned to form with a dominent display in the middle. Its no suprise his work helped the Hawks to their first win of the season over a disappointing North.

4 highlights for me.

First: For the first time in season 2009 had a rest during a game. One of the very very few AFL players to NOT have some bench time up to now.

Second: Sam kicked his first goal - and a good one at that - for the season.

Third: One of two frees against. Mitchell is tackled, jumper held, they turn around and Sam is still standing and gets a perfect handball off to a Hawks player. Umpire blows whistle...and pays a free against

Fourth: The Hawks went in with their one and only ruckman Brent Renouf (Twister) (Campbell, Bailey, Walsh, Lowden all injured, Taylor suspended). Mitchell did a great job keeping him focused. Twister did some good jumping and got the ball to Mitchell and the boys. All helped set up our first win.


12 Kicks
25 Handballs!
for 37 disposals for the game.

2 marks,

4 frees for and 2 against

4 tackles

1 goal.

For the season to date - 3 rounds leads the club in disposals.

38 kicks
44 handballs
= 82 disposals!
9 marks
11 frees for
6 against

9 tackles and

1 goal.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Round 6 v Carlton

Kicks 14
Handballs 21
Disposals 35
Marks 6
Tackles 6
Goals 0
Behinds 0


Hawthorn 5.0 9.2 11.9 16.10 (106)
Carlton 3.2 7.5 11.8 15.12 (102)

GOALS
Hawthorn: ,Roughead 8, Franklin 2, Dew 2, Brown, Osborne, Moss, Williams
Carlton: Fevola 8, Betts 2, Carrazzo, Scotland, Stevens, O'hAilpin, Simpson

BEST
Hawthorn: Roughead, Sewell, Lewis, Mitchell, Dowler, Dew
Carlton: Judd, Fevola, Murphy, Simpson, Carrazzo, Gibbs, Bower

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Carlton: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, McLaren, Armstrong

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Sam Mitchell honest about poor start
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/spo...-19742,00.html

• SAM Mitchell has described the club's Premiership defence so far as diabolical.

The Hawks continue to have numerous injury problems, with Luke Hodge and Chance Bateman in doubt for Friday's game.
But Mitchell said the Hawks were yet to rule anyone out this week.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Round 7 v Essendon

Kicks 16
Handballs 10
Disposals 26
Marks 7
Tackles 2
Goals 0
Behinds 0



Essendon 4.2 6.7 12.10 17.14 (116)
Hawthorn 1.8 6.8 9.11 10.12 (72)

GOALS
Essendon: Lloyd 3, Lovett-Murray 3, Monfries 2, Neagle 2, Zaharakis 2, Lonergan, Hocking, Stanton, Bellchambers, Lovett
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 2, Dew, Williams, Rioli

BEST
Essendon: Stanton, Monfries, Lloyd, Davey, Winderlich, Pears, Lovett-Murray, Watson
Hawthorn: Rioli, Birchall, Lewis, Franklin

INJURIES
Essendon: Lovett-Murray (corked thigh)
Hawthorn: Bateman (calf)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, Grun, Chamberlain.
Official crowd: 50,475 at Docklands

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Round 8 v Fremantle

Kicks 29
Handballs 5
Disposals 35
Marks 10
Tackles 4
Goals 0
Behinds 0

BOG another great game ny the skipper!


HAWTHORN 3.2 8.4 11.6 13.9 (87)
FREMANTLE 2.2 3.4 7.8 9.11 (65)


Goals: Hawthorn: L Franklin 4 C Rioli 2 M Williams 2 C Bateman G MossJ RougheadM Osborne S Dew. Fremantle: A Sandilands 2 R Murphy 2 L McPharlin M Johnson M Pavlich P Duffield S Thornton.

Best: Hawthorn: S Mitchell L Franklin C Bateman B McGlynn C Rioli B Sewell. Fremantle: M Pavlich M Johnson A Sandilands P Duffield B Schammer.

Umpires: Craig Hendrie, Matt Stevic, Scott McLaren.

Official Crowd: 39,135 at Subiaco.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/spo...-19742,00.htmlHawthorn's Sam Mitchell clears slate

Bruce Matthews | May 27, 2009 12:00am

• HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell's relief to get through unscathed at the MCG on Sunday had nothing to do with any threat of injury.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Round 9 V Melbourne

Kicks 20
Handballs 11
Disposals 31
Marks 8
Tackles 4
Goals 0
Behinds 1




HAWTHORN: 6.2, 11.7, 16.9, 17.12 (114)
MELBOURNE: 2.5, 4.6, 8.10, 13.14 (92)

GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Roughead 3, Bateman 2, Guerra 2, Rioli 2, McGlynn, Muston, Osborne, Williams
Melbourne: Sylvia 4, Martin 2, Robertson 2, Bate, Bruce, Johnson, McDonald, McLean
BEST: Hawthorn: Lewis, Muston, Sewell, Morton, Rioli, Franklin
Melbourne: Sylvia, Green, Jones, Bruce, Morton, McLean
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Stokes (hamstring tightness), Moss (leg)
Melbourne: Robertson (cramp), Whelan (nose)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Hay, Avon
CROWD: 39,395 at the MCG
__________________

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Mitchell's Brownlow blow; five others face bans

Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell must beat a striking charge at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday to remain eligible for the Brownlow Medal





HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell will be ineligible to win the Brownlow medal unless he beats a striking offence at Tuesday night's tribunal, with the match review panel handing him a costly reprimand for his hit on Adelaide's David Mackay.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Round 10 V Adelaide

Kicks 11
Handballs 11
Disposals 22
Marks 1
Tackles 4
Goals 0
Behinds 0



Adelaide 7.1 12.4 12.5 16.10 (106)
Hawthorn 2.1 4.4 8.6 12.7 (79)

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 5, Knights 4, Doughty 2, Dangerfield, Vince, Tippett, Douglas, Stevens
Hawthorn: Rioli 4, Franklin 3, Bateman 2, Lewis, Roughead, Dew

BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Bock, Walker, Knights, Doughty, Rutten, Goodwin, Vince
Hawthorn: Rioli, Sewell, Lewis, Bateman, Ellis, Muston

INJURIES
Adelaide: Vince (nose)
Hawthorn: Brown (corked thigh)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Chamberlain, Findlay, Ryan
Official crowd: 40,035 at AAMI Stadium

 

[noosa hawk mad]

Round 11 V Sydney

Kicks 13
Handballs 7
Disposals 20
Marks 6
Tackles 3
Goals 1
Behinds 0


HAWTHORN: 4.5, 7.5, 9.11, 12.14 (86)
SYDNEY: 2.5, 4.7, 8.7, 11.9 (75)

GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 3,Williams 3, Roughead 3, Ellis 2, Mitchell
Sydney: Goodes 3, Hall 2, Jolly, McVeigh, O'Loughlin, J Bolton, Mattner, Kirk,

BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Hodge, Birchall, Campbell, McGlynn, Lewis, Franklin, Williams,Sewell
Sydney: Goodes, O'Keefe, Shaw, Mattner, Jolly, J Bolton

INJURIES: Hawthorn: Rioli (hamstring), Dew (calf)
Sydney: Crouch (knee), C Bolton (knee)

UMPIRES: Donlon, Vozzo, Hendrie

 

[lethalselbow]

Round 12 vs Brisbane.

A second half that Hawthorn and Mitchell would rather forget
Kicks 12
Handballs 19
Disposals 31
Marks 6
Tackles 10
Goals -

 

[lethalselbow]

Round 13 vs West Coast

Ball magnet in a losing effort. A nightmare in the last quarter for the Hawks.

Kicks 24
Handballs 16
Disposals 40
Marks 7
Tackles 3
Goals 1

 

[lethalselbow]

Round 14 vs Bulldogs

Thank goodness I was interstate for this debacle. 4 quarter's of crap by Hawthorn and a beer shower send off for Mitchell on the way out of the ground.

Kicks 9
Handballs 17
Disposals 26
Marks 5
Tackles 3
Goals -

 

[lethalselbow]

Round 15 vs Kangaroos

Gritty win by the Hawks in the wet.

Kicks 12
Handballs 14
Disposals 26
Marks 1
Tackles 2
Goals -

 

[lethalselbow]

Round 16 vs Colliwobbles

Inspiring captain's game. Three cracking goals to lead the Hawks on their way with an inspired second half against the Magpies.

Kicks 16
Handballs 9
Disposals 25
Marks 4
Tackles -
Goals 3

 

[lethalselbow]

Thought I'd help fill the void Noosa was ably trying to fill, for whoever had the job of looking after the Hawthorn captain.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsartic...7/default.aspx
List assessment: Hawthorn
By Chris Fagan

Sam Mitchell
Sam had a terrific year. He was very consistent, probably our most consistent player. He played with some injury difficulties in the last six to eight weeks of the season but he did a fantastic job to get through all the games.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/sam-mitchell-is-hawks-best/story-e6frf9jf-1225782526118



HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell's consistency in what proved to be a difficult year for his club has won him his second Peter Crimmins Medal.



Mitchell gathered votes in 21 of his 22 matches to poll 170 votes to easily defeat second-year star Cyril Rioli (123) and brilliant forward Lance Franklin (121).

In an emotional result at Crown Palladium last night, the 26-year-old was presented with the Olympic-sized gold medal depicting an image of the late Hawthorn champion by Crimmins' widow, Gwen.

Mitchell wears the No.5 guernsey that Crimmins made famous before his death from cancer in 1976.

Crimmins is one of the most revered of all Hawthorn footballers, having played in the club's 1971 premiership side, and was the club's captain for two years.

Mitchell, whose other best and fairest came in 2006, also won the club's Most Consistent award this season.