Coach Sam Mitchell's direction for the club and 2024 news

[Strapping Young Lad]

If anyone wants to have a listen about what the data is saying in regards to whether we have actually gotten worse this year have a listen to this from the 9:15 mark.

I know a few people have already touched on it, but the data is also showing that our results this year have been slightly better despite actually putting out a younger team and dealing with some injuries.




And here.

 

[thehardway]

I imagine the free agents and OOC players will now be sitting up and taking notice of what Sam and others are building at the Hawks.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

All the great new coaches have periods like this when they take over a shitty list. Has happened to Hardwick, Clarkson, Malthouse, (not Roos cos he knows when to swan in and take over a list, or leave before it gets gritty).

All the terrible new coaches have periods like this when they take over a shitty list. Neeld, Teague, Primus, etc.

It's way too early to tell. But this is a really good moment to see what Sam comes back with. He's rattled - that press conference was not from a guy who sees the big picture coming together while having a bad day at the office. This is when a coaching group earns their salary - when the media is storming at them, the players have lost confidence and aren't playing well, a third of the list is injured and we've had over a month of footy without a win.

As a fan, one who has gone through highs and lows of the 80s, then the 90s and early 2000s, and then the prime clarko era - THIS is the most interesting time we've had as a supporter group.

If you're freaking out and using the word putrid in every second post you are missing one of the most fascinating periods in the club's history. Stick around - the right and wrong paths both look very similar at this point of a rebuild.

Little self quote here.

This was on April 14 after a 53 point loss to the suns.

like I said - this is when the coaching group earns their salary - and Mitchell and the crew definitely earning their salary now. Wonderful turnaround.

 

[Boot Studder]

I imagine the free agents and OOC players will now be sitting up and taking notice of what Sam and others are building at the Hawks.

This would make Roughy’s job a little easier, too.

 

[mustang]

I think the majority of our young guys now feel like they belong at the top level. Any feeling of intimidation is now gone and they're ready to spread their wings.

Do you think we still need another top 5 pick player like Derm came out and said this week.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Do you think we still need another top 5 pick player like Derm came out and said this week.

We've got potential on every line at the moment:

• Ginnivan, Dear, Watson, CMac in the forward line
• Day, Newcombe, McKenzie, Ward, D'Ambrosio in the midfield
• Weddle, CJ, SMitchell, Serong, DGB, Blanck, in the backline

So the question is where do we need a boost in potential given there's some first round talent on all lines? Cos there aren't many of these younger crop that are past the point of having to add more potential talent to the mix.

 

[The hands of stone]

Do you think we still need another top 5 pick player like Derm came out and said this week.

Looking at the number doesn't account for getting someone like Weddle at 18 who is probably performing as a top 5.
Dear at 54 who you can argue is performing as a top 10 .
And we haven't seen McCabe who people I know thought would be high end in the draft if not FS

It's more talent ID/development than the number.
We have talent, it's complementing it not thinking we need a 'top 5' pick etc

 

[matey]

The term hitting a cliff is generally used for sides after a period success and when a group of players that have been together for along time retire at the same time and can’t be easily replaced. What is the opposite of this? Climbing a steep mountain perhaps but I’m hoping over the last month or so this is what our club is experiencing in its journey.

 

[HedgeFund]

As pleasing as it is to read all this wonderful positive (deserved) praise for our coaching staff, I dare say they will be conscious of the fact that:

1. We have midfield continuity - which is critical for success.

2. We went 0-5 by losing to teams currently placed 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th & 10th

3. We have now gone 5-2 by
…..losing to teams currently placed 1st (76 pts belting) & 4th

…and defeating teams placed 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th

Yes - there’s has been genuine improvement in 2024 over 2023.

Yes - we have started to play much better in the past 7 weeks after finally breaking through against North.

That’s great, but Sam and the coaches will no doubt be very aware of the above.

“It’s never as good as it looks and it’s never as bad as it seems.”

 

[MasterSamurai]

People asking what high end talent we're missing particularly when we're pushing top 4!! Your answer is a top line big frwd to free up Chol and Dear. We have one in Lewis and hopefully he puts his injury concerns behind him from round one onwards starting next year.
We have enough talent and choices in the backline and midfield.

 

[Bedi]

I'd love to get another crack at the Swans to get a gauge of where we're at. Feels like we've made serious inroads since hitting rock bottom against them at the MCG 5 weeks ago

 

[Dipper]

As pleasing as it is to read all this wonderful positive (deserved) praise for our coaching staff, I dare say they will be conscious of the fact that:

1. We have midfield continuity - which is critical for success.

2. We went 0-5 by losing to teams currently placed 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th & 10th

3. We have now gone 5-2 by
…..losing to teams currently placed 1st (76 pts belting) & 4th

…and defeating teams placed 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th

Yes - there’s has been genuine improvement in 2024 over 2023.

Yes - we have started to play much better in the past 7 weeks after finally breaking through against North.

That’s great, but Sam and the coaches will no doubt be very aware of the above.

“It’s never as good as it looks and it’s never as bad as it seems.”

You're right of course in your general thesis but the first few games we were so bad in the centre bounce, we had the largest negative differential ever didn't we?(after 3 games was it)

So the turnaround there has been huge and I don't think it's simply a case of beating up easier oppo, you'd no doubt be able to understand far better than me what we've changed in there, but it feels bloody good right now.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

I almost feel like Sicily is a bit of the forgotten man for the Hawks in 2024.

If he gets rolling again and starts to hit the form of last year our performance will go up another level again.

I love the fact we’re not reliant on Sicily like we’re last year. Scrimshaw, Frost, Weddle, .impey, Amon, Mass, all playing important roles in defence and distribution.

 

[The Chad and I]

As pleasing as it is to read all this wonderful positive (deserved) praise for our coaching staff, I dare say they will be conscious of the fact that:

1. We have midfield continuity - which is critical for success.

2. We went 0-5 by losing to teams currently placed 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th & 10th

3. We have now gone 5-2 by
…..losing to teams currently placed 1st (76 pts belting) & 4th

…and defeating teams placed 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th

Yes - there’s has been genuine improvement in 2024 over 2023.

Yes - we have started to play much better in the past 7 weeks after finally breaking through against North.

That’s great, but Sam and the coaches will no doubt be very aware of the above.

“It’s never as good as it looks and it’s never as bad as it seems.”

good summary, which puts us as a mid-table team, a significant improvement on last season.
I don't think anybody takes the recent form as being more than that.

 

[humid hawk]

While I don't think we are world beaters right now, another 30-40 games into this group and we'll be a team other clubs don't want to play.

Am absolutely loving the style of game that we are developing - when we are on we are brilliant to watch! Imagine barracking for a Ross Lyon coached team? I'd rather a testicle punch from Freddy Krueger

 

[MasterSamurai]

While I don't think we are world beaters right now, another 30-40 games into this group and we'll be a team other clubs don't want to play.

Am absolutely loving the style of game that we are developing - when we are on we are brilliant to watch! Imagine barracking for a Ross Lyon coached team? I'd rather a testicle punch from Freddy Krueger

Ok, I agree with you but, let's just say a punch in the face by Freddy and leave gonads alone yeah?

 

[matey]

Do you think we still need another top 5 pick player like Derm came out and said this week.

Wiz, Ward, Finn, Wingard battling it out to get back into the ones, Meek/Lewis injured at the moment (Blanck back next year) with Ramma, McCabe, Jasper, Bodie, Huss showing some nice potential and if we get a Smith or Battle ……. our depth now is looking stacked. How do we fit them all in! Could’nt believe I heard Dermie say this as the Hawthorn way has always been about having a really good bottom six in your best 22 and bat down to the 27th best player on the list. I reckon that is a hell of a lot more important than Hawks getting another top 5 pick.

 

[HedgeFund]

good summary, which puts us as a mid-table team, a significant improvement on last season.
I don't think anybody takes the recent form as being more than that.

Yep.

I think we are exactly positioned where we should be - 12th. At the bottom of the mid tier.

Which is pretty much how we are performing right now.

Way better than 16th. Not yet up to making 8th, but on the right track. Importantly our % is still only 86.7 whereas we finished 2023 at 80.2.

As for the clearance / CSB implements. IMHO that’s a combination of:

1. Day being in there regularly
and showing good leadership by directing structure;

2. Meek getting a big shot of confidence;

3. players sticking to their roles better by not all hunting the pill immediately it comes off the ruck’s hand.

 

[Hawkers Hero]

People asking what high end talent we're missing particularly when we're pushing top 4!! Your answer is a top line big frwd to free up Chol and Dear. We have one in Lewis and hopefully he puts his injury concerns behind him from round one onwards starting next year.
We have enough talent and choices in the backline and midfield.

Personally I am comfortable with our talent ahead of and behind the ball.

It is in the middle I have a slight concern - whilst we are playing well at present, we seem to be heavily reliant on Day if our early season form is anything to go by and against better teams (or god forbid injury) this is a limitation we need to solve.

It could be as simple as Ward, Frenchie and CMac getting another 20-30 games or Smith coming across in the off-season and playing like 2021 again but we definitely need that extra top-line midfielder in my opinion.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Forward line has taken shape in the last couple of months, and in the last 5 games we are:

1st for scores per Inside 50.
1st for scores from kick in.
4th for scores from stoppage.

 

[KermitJagger]

Forward line has taken shape in the last couple of months, and in the last 5 games we are:

1st for scores per Inside 50.
1st for scores from kick in.
4th for scores from stoppage.

A few other bits that I noticed in that same period.

1st for Ground Ball Get differential
1st for Defensive 1v1s lost (we've lost the least per game)
4th for limiting score off turnover
5th for limiting score off defensive transition

Both those last 3 stats it's pretty much us and the Dogs / Sydney / Freo making up the numbers for all of the top 4/5. Good company to be in.

I remember when we had those patches of being solid defensively under Clarko it was pretty much the case that we stopped transition and turnover, but our offense stopped as well. Hasn't been the case here - we're still scoring and making bold attacking decisions.

 

[KermitJagger]

Some more:

4th fewest opposition metres gained per disposal
3rd fewest opposition intercept marks
1st fewest opposition intercept possessions (so therefore 1st for fewest turnovers as well)

Lots of good signs.

 

[mustang]

The way Hawks are playing are we playing a Mitchell version of the Clarko’s Cluster to protect the defensive, Going by the footage on the footy shows on the weekend,how we work in triangles around the opposition player who has the ball, to restrict the players options to get it to another player and them scoring.

With the triangle moving to cover the next opposition player and so on.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

The way Hawks are playing are we playing a Mitchell version of the Clarko’s Cluster to protect the defensive, Going by the footage on the footy shows on the weekend,how we work in triangles around the opposition player who has the ball, to restrict the players options to get it to another player and them scoring.

With the triangle moving to cover the next opposition player and so on.

I have noticed this is a trend of modern football. Especially a triangle defense.

Every team has their designated intercept player defensively, Hawthorn tends to be Sicily, for Geelong Stewart, for GWS Taylor. They’re the heart of the triangle. The other two points are rebound players, and even better if they’re capable above head. This triangle across half back moves inline with the ball.

Top of the triangle behind the play as dangerous spot - Sicily

Back two points for longer or hack kicks + easier to get run from behind. - Amon, Weddle etc

It’s not set in stone as a player designator for the role but I’ve noticed it’s a setup 90% of teams play.

Hawthorn take this to another level with holding a diamond shape around the ball at all times around the ground. Trusting one or two teammates winning the ball, or pressuring the ball carrier and going from there. D1, next option and so on. Which is pretty basic football, just with a specific structure to make it easier and a more well oiled machine.

Holding width is key for not only being better setup defensively, but even more so for counterattack on the outside. Keeping the ball in tight for easy repeat stoppage or to dictate through pressure and owning width to maintain run and options.

It’s awesome to be able to look at structures of different teams and the trends played, maybe I’m just a football nerd. But it’s so clear what the structure is in so many differing aspects, around the ground, around the ball, defensively, offensively, transition.


Here is the triangle, a poor two second scribble example.

Diamond around ball, cyclone movement, D1, width.

Mind the poor detail but hopefully it makes sense.

 

[MrPremiership]

We're a destination club now according to Footy Classified

 

[Brant]

Forward line has taken shape in the last couple of months, and in the last 5 games we are:

1st for scores per Inside 50.
1st for scores from kick in.
4th for scores from stoppage.

We're just getting started!