Coach Sam Mitchell's direction for the club and 2025 news

[Brant]

I’ve been delighted to watch the evolution of Sam’s style over the last few years. Another interesting few weeks coming up in his development.

Last year, after what I’ll call our “take your mouthguards to training” game, we made sure getting the ground ball was the key part of our revival heading into the second part of the year.

It interested me to see yesterday just how determined we were to instantly hand pass yesterday and we saw the good and the bad from it. That Newcombe hand pass that ended with a Sicily goal was incredibly high risk, but high reward.

What coaching tweak do you think will underpin the next few months for us?

We'll very soon have a KPF available for selection, which will come with its own evolution.

I'd say that handball game stays. If the only thing we change from yesterday's game is NOT REPEATEDLY HANDBALL INTO THE GUY STANDING THE F***ING MARK - we win.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

The way we forced Geelong to bomb long down the line to our intercept markers is something that Chris Scott used to make our players do regularly.

It was almost as if we flipped the script.

Imagine our defenders actually intercept marked some of them!

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I don't think we will see a 'tweak' as much as massive structural changes across the field as our key players return from injury. I think we're currently trying out "Plan B", or even "Plan C", waiting for the return of these key structural pieces to allow "Plan A" to function. We have SO much depth across the field, but I feel we lack 1-2 of the absolute elite players - and of course the big gaping hole up forward right now.

The return of Dear (and later Lewis) will transform our forward line (Dear, Chol AND Gunston/Lewis gives us improved marking power across the whole ground) which will see us utilise more small forward crumbers, and less "high-half-forwards" (more Watson, less Moore if you will). This will force us to utilise our wings more, as we return to more of a kicking game like 2024 instead of the 'run-n-gun' through the corridor we are attempting now.

The fact we're choosing to play a completely different style rather than bring up the next player in the depth chart is pretty damning on those KPF still at Box Hill (Ramsden, Skaife, McCabe,etc) - but perhaps illustrates where they are really at right now.

Adding one, or perhaps two talls to the forward line will require at least one (likely two) of the 5 talls (Barrass/Battle/Sicily/Scrimshaw/Weddle) to move out of defence permanently and changes across the field to balance the side. This should give us better mobility, run and spread, but will require a more offensive wingman than Morrison/Ward to partner Massimo (who will no doubt enjoy the extra space to use his kicking!). The extra marking ability would also be beneficial - it was obvious how much we went to Newcombe as the bail-out option yesterday - often resulting in him going up against 2, or sometimes 3 opponents.

Defensively, I don't think Barrass has been anywhere near the player I expected or others have posted about, similarly Battle seems to be struggling when not given a straight-forward tasks. That will hopefully improve in time, but right now the combination of Battle with Weddle just leads to Benny Hill - it's like they don't even speak the same language. Scrimshaw back is key, he provides the structural stability by smoothly transitioning up and down the opposition #2-#4 forwards and him finding form may unlock Sicily from his current woes as they combine so well together defensively.

I want more kicking (Sicily/Battle/Scrimshaw/Hardwick) from defence. More run (Amon/Weddle/CJ/Impey) from half back. There's NINE players there, as I haven't mentioned Barrass. We typically only play seven, so two of the above are dropping out of the 22 or playing elsewhere. Frost/Blanck/Serong are all stuck at Box Hill and we could easily drop another tall too.

On-ball, I think our 'Big-5' (Newcombe/Nash/Worpel/Day supported by MacKenzie) is good but not great - still one premium mid short. With Day out, our next options are being found lacking in the contested ball. Our wings (D'Ambrossio/Morrison/Ward) don't give us much offensively atm, and with an 'average' midfield, the defensive wing isn't working for us right now. I feel we can upgrade the right-side wing offensively - and think Weddle is the guy to do it. Giving him Ward's current rotations onball should also give us a different look. I'm not sure if Ward is better served pushed outside as a wingman only, or getting full games onball at Box Hill instead - as much as he is maligned, Morrison gives us plenty of defensive coverage from the wing with his superior positioning and reliability.

Up forward I want marking (Dear/Lewis/Chol/Gunston) and run (Moore/MacDonald/Ginnivan/Watson/Breust). Again, there's NINE, so at least two have to miss at full strength. I'm not comfortable with anyone other than Chol rucking however.

Which leaves the Ruck - a single point of failure in all structures. If Meek is able to equalise his opponent our onballers can get to work, but too often this year he's been comfortably beaten (often by supposed spuds who play out of their skin for one week then return to Spudville afterwards - that's a pattern that suggests we significantly over-rate Lloyd this year). I've long been a proponent of Reeves to give us the ruck dominance, but if I'm being honest neither are at the top of their game. As 2nd rucks, Chol/Nash/Weddle all give us something different, with the Chol (centrebounce)/Nash (around the ground) combination working quite well. It's robbing both those players of their best elsewhere though, especially when our inside midfield and KPF brigade are so undermanned right now. If ever Sammy was going to play 2 rucks, he would have done so with our Key Forwards missing - so it's not going to happen. Instead, we need to strengthen our onball and KPF groupings to allow Nash/Chol sufficient rest.

===
So after all that, I guess my tweak is Weddle to the Wing. (Everyone else goes back to their primary role).

A little harsh on Meek.

He gave Stanley an absolute bath yesterday and although he's been a little down on form compared to last year he's still a big upgrade on Reeves. He hasn't won every ruck battle this year but even when he's lost he's still given us something.

Agree that Scrimmers is probably our most important defender at the moment as he's the one who can combine offensive output with defensive lockdown.

 

[SSSSSS]

Imagine our defenders actually intercept marked some of them!

TB was gobbling up a few.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

TB was gobbling up a few.

If gobbling you mean running under and not marking, then yes, gobbling.

His chase though was epic.

 

[SSSSSS]

If gobbling you mean running under and not marking, then yes, gobbling.

His chase though was epic.

Had the most intercept marks on the ground with 3.

It was a weird day though. Stewart was running under the ball plenty too. Took zero intercept marks. Sicily continually misjudged the flight as did TB.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Had the most intercept marks on the ground with 3.

It was a weird day though. Stewart was running under the ball plenty too. Took zero intercept marks. Sicily continually misjudged the flight as did TB.

I still think Barrass is misjudging balls at the G.

Next couple of weeks could be good for him

 

[Roddy]

Apparently we're in the premiership window, despite being below our very best so far this year, which has been a pretty damn reliable predictor of the flags won each year (18 of the last 20).

Good signs....

 

[extractasam]

Apparently we're in the premiership window, despite being below our very best so far this year, which has been a pretty damn reliable predictor of the flags won each year (18 of the last 20).

Good signs....

#1 forward pressure team too surprised me

 

[TylerDurden]

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Not going well, but still winning.
This is very similar to the 3peat. Doing enough

 

[Rushed_Behind]

I still think we’re in the tinkering part of the season. I think we start to ramp it up post bye.

 

[Brant]

I still think we’re in the tinkering part of the season. I think we start to ramp it up post bye.

I don't think we're tinkering as much as trying to find ways to play/win without KPF.

I agree with ramping it up after the bye.

It's gonna headf**k a few in here but I see us hitting the break about 7-7, then probably not losing another game for the remainder of the season (maybe ever!).

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Not going well, but still winning.
This is very similar to the 3peat. Doing enough

We absolutely smashed teams during that era. If we pull out performances like the ones vs Freo and Sydney in 2015 then put money on us.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I don't think we're tinkering as much as trying to find ways to play/win without KPF.

I agree with ramping it up after the bye.

It's gonna headf**k a few in here but I see us hitting the break about 7-7, then probably not losing another game for the remainder of the season (maybe ever!).

The way we are currently playing GCS, Collingwood, Brisbane and the Doggies will beat us. We should beat Richmond and Melbourne though.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

We absolutely smashed teams during that era. If we pull out performances like the ones vs Freo and Sydney in 2015 then put money on us.

We also had quite a lot of very average games. It's part of the reason why a lot of people didn't rate the 3peat at the time

 

[Sirlemsip]

The way we are currently playing GCS, Collingwood, Brisbane and the Doggies will beat us. We should beat Richmond and Melbourne though.

We do normally play well against Collingwood, Brisbane and the Dogs though.

I'd almost sacrifice that stupid Darwin game against GC. Both clubs are off a 5 day break, but GC are playing two games there in a row so I assume they'll just stay there the whole week. Take a Box Hill heavy team up there and rest up the important players for the following week against Brisbane at the 'G.

 

[Ka Norkers]

Hawks are sitting pretty with a 5-2 record.
The simple fact is that the team is currently in the top 4, yet you can count the players who are performing better then they did last year on one hand. Logic would tell you this is a fantastic position to be in. When they all get going, and they will at some stage, look out.
I have the following having a better season than last year so far (note, others have had equal seasons, but not better)
Gunston
Morrison
Amon
that's it for me. Three players, yet we are in the top four.
Feeling very confident about this year

 

[Sirlemsip]

Hawks are sitting pretty with a 5-2 record.
The simple fact is that the team is currently in the top 4, yet you can count the players who are performing better then they did last year on one hand. Logic would tell you this is a fantastic position to be in. When they all get going, and they will at some stage, look out.
I have the following having a better season than last year so far (note, others have had equal seasons, but not better)
Gunston
Morrison
Amon
that's it for me. Three players, yet we are in the top four.
Feeling very confident about this year

I'd also add Weddle, Mackenzie and Ward to that list.

There might not be many players that are exceeding their performance from 2024, but there are plenty of players who have maintained similar form...
Newk, Meek, Moore and Chol have all performed similar to last year.

Then there are a bunch who have been impacted by injury or suspension:
Day, Scrimshaw, Worps, Macdonald, Dear - all haven't had a great run at it so far (Day was another that was exceeding 2024 prior to going down). Lewis still to come back as well.

Then you add Battle (who has been excellent) and Barrass (who has been an improvement on Frost)...both are still getting used to structures and the way we want to play.

Things will click for this team, and when they do the other teams should be afraid.

 

[Ka Norkers]

interesting, those were the exact three I considered adding to the list, but in the end I thought they currently sit about where they were last year.

 

[PenAndPaper]

We've been worked out but are 5-2 and if we kicked straight would be 6-1. Not to mention the very real chance that we could be 7-2 anyway after the next two rounds.
Analysis like this makes me laugh especially when we are still top 6 defensively and offensively in the comp, even after being 'found out'.

 

[Roddy]

We've been worked out but are 5-2 and if we kicked straight would be 6-1. Not to mention the very real chance that we could be 7-2 anyway after the next two rounds.
Analysis like this makes me laugh especially when we are still top 6 defensively and offensively in the comp, even after being 'found out'.

These pundits will cherry-pick the stats that suit their narrative, while ignoring the bigger picture.

They have column inches and TV time to fill, and engagement to farm.....

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

The way we are currently playing GCS, Collingwood, Brisbane and the Doggies will beat us. We should beat Richmond and Melbourne though.

If we can go 2-2 from those 4 games, we're very lucky

 

[Sturty]

Anyone got the video of Sam in the crowd at the Dees/Tigers game? Beer in one hand, playing chess on his phone with the other

 

[RCAB]

Hawks might sit on the top of ladder in 2 weeks time.