Coach Sam Mitchell - where is the pressure?

[Cyclops]

Now we can have the "Bevo:where is the pressure?" thread back again

Bit of confidence goes a long way.

 

[smish]

Like the TV show on 7? No. I’m a big fan of the self proclaimed master coach.

Self proclaimed?

What are you talking about?

 

[Vindicater]

The new Kenny.

Gets them up on emotion.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Self proclaimed?

What are you talking about?

It’s just baiting rubbish.
Ignore him and how rent free Hawthorn sit in his head.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

The new Kenny.

Gets them up on emotion.

Silly take.

Hawks had been low on intensity and pressure the weeks prior, this was a return to the basics.

 

[smish]

It’s just baiting rubbish.
Ignore him and how rent free Hawthorn sit in his head.

Rent free is being kind. It's cringe now.

 

[Vindicater]

Silly take.

Hawks had been low on intensity and pressure the weeks prior, this was a return to the basics.

Won't be long until we see Sam picking on much younger players and doing twirly whirls on field.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Won't be long until we see Sam picking on much younger players and doing twirly whirls on field.

I think you’ll have to settle for smug smirks.

 

[Vindicater]

I think you’ll have to settle for smug smirks.

Nah, his grumpiness the last few weeks has left me wanting more.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

I'm aware the narrative has now become that wonder coach Sam Mitchell has been hamstrung by his predecessor, for obvious reasons, and that's certainly true. But Sam has also overseen the following:

• Happily dished out Ceglar only to bizarrely bring in an arguable worse replacement in Max Lynch. And threw in the Hawks third rounder on top of the third rounder they got for Ceglar from Geelong.
• Moved Tom Mitchell on for a bloke who can't get a game, leaving an already inexperienced midfield completely bereft of experience or leadership.
• Gave up a 2nd and 3rd rounder to move up from pick 27 to pick 18.
• Paid a 2nd round pick to give Chol 4 years who was subject to Bronx cheers from Hawks fans yesterday.
• Drafted a promising KPF in the MSD draft only to ship him off to Brisbane so that Mitchell could give his mate another contract. This on top of moving on another forward who kicked 15 goals in 11 games last year.
• Bought a small forward in via trade and then doubled down by drafting another instead of using the draft pick to bolster any other area that was lagging. In isolation grabbing Ginni or Watson is perfectly fine but getting both at the same time is weird.

I know you've already admitted you got this wrong (so not targetted at you whatsoever) but this post really emphasises the importance of waiting for things to play out and look at the totality of the deals being done for clubs (and that's not even referencing the fact that Mitchell's team has improved).

Reflecting back on those deals:

The "promising MSD KPF" we traded to Brisbane was 27 years old with 3 career goals to his name and will very likely never be given a game again. We got a 2nd round pick for him! That's an incredible deal. We also got Jack Gunston thrown in, who as of last week had the 3rd highest goal average in the entire AFL.

We then used that 2nd rounder to grab Mabior Chol, who has had 86 goal contributions in a season and a half (61 goals, 25 assists), whilst laying the most tackles of any KPF in the AFL and providing a chop out in the ruck. Been a very handy acquisition, particularly in light of the injury troubles to Mitch Lewis and Clasher Dear.

The trades of Mitchell and O'Meara, derided at the time and described as tanking, has proven a master stroke. It has brought Newcombe ad Day into the middle and revived Worpel's career. Our midfield has improved significantly, going from 18th in all key metrics to one able to compete with the best. We also got Meek in those trades, who I would argue is a top 6 ruck in the comp. We also got a number if picks, including a 2nd rounder (used in the trade described next). Obviously Mitchell and O'Meara are both on the wrong side of 30 and have only been able to play a total of 5 games between them this season.

Using pick 27 and a 2nd and 3rd rounder to move into the (late) first round was to pick up a player we rated and felt had slid. That player was Josh Weddle, who I would argue is the most promising (and versatile) young player on the Hawthorn list. I think using a late pick and the extra 2nd rounder we got from Freo with Lloyd Meek for O'Meara to ensure we got Weddle is pretty justified. FWIW, the player Sydney picked with pick 27 was Cooper Vickery, who has since been delisted without playing a game.

The final questioned trade was the one for Ginnivan. Here, the cost was pick 33 for pick 39 and a swap of future 2nd's. Hawthorn then proceeded to finish multiple spots higher on the ladder, effectively meaning we got Ginnivan for free. We then turned Ginnivan into a different kind of player (more of a half forward), who has averaged 21 disposals and 2 goals over the last 7 weeks and is still only 22. The half forward thing means he fits in well with Watson (pure forward pocket), who also has started his career pretty well, with 43 goals in his first 30 games (including 7 across his 2 finals)

Nearly every move made above has been good to great and that's not including getting Amon and Battle for free, D'Ambrosio for an unused pick, Barrass to replace Frost, etc, etc.