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

[Brant]

Sydney completely underestimated meek by playing Grundy underdone.

Love how Sammy is strategising in areas not so prominent in 2024.

Bodes well for 2025 and beyond

We don't know to what extent Grundy was underdone. Nor, do we know the fitness of his possible replacements.

I've got every confidence that Cox & Co. selected what they determined was their best available side. There's almost zero chance they under-valued Meek & trotted out an under-done Grundy when better/fitter players were available.

 

[kazzooka]

We don't know to what extent Grundy was underdone. Nor, do we know the fitness of his possible replacements.

I've got every confidence that Cox & Co. selected what they determined was their best available side. There's almost zero chance they under-valued Meek & trotted out an under-done Grundy when better/fitter players were available.

My understanding is that Grundy copped a know to the knee at training the day before their practice match so pulled out to not risk it. Then he continued training and played Round 0.

Swans fans would know better but I don't think he was missing large chunks of pre-season like say Frost was.

 

[cs61]

Some interesting take aways:

• Mentioned Battle as someone that makes everyone around him better and that others already love playing with him.
• Talked about the importance of having a game plan that is very well executed by everyone and how he feels that is more important having the best game plan.
• Was asked about what he learned from Clarkson, and didn't mention very much at all. In fact the one positive example he was asked to give, he ended up talking about Fagan giving him positive feedback, which helped motivate him. I found this interesting given he was clearly asked about Clarkson.
• In contrast, spoke glowingly about Adam Simpson and his relationship with him, where I didn't pick up on any thing like that with his long time coach.
• He seems to really value all the skill sets of others in our coaching and fitness staff and what they bring as individuals, which all great leaders know how to tap in to.

One more thing that was interesting was the switch in goals. Last year the goal was 'being in winnable positions more often', which we obviously met in spades. This year Sam said it was 'beating the best sides when it mattered' and nailing those key moments. Get insight to see the gradual switch of focus, and also not off to a bad start given what happened round 1.

 

[Randy Campbell]

Come what may you'll find us striving.

Sam's direction has always been about constant improvement and I have seen nothing so far in 2025 to suggest that this will change.

 

[mustang]

I wonder if we could see Blanck return to the side also with Sicily Forward with Dear and Lewis and a back line of Barrass CHF Blank FB or the other way around with Battle playing the Ben Stratton role.

Or would this make us to slow with Chol in the Second Ruck resting forward role.

When Dear and then Lewis Return

 

[H00t]

I wonder if we could see Blanck return to the side also with Sicily Forward with Dear and Lewis and a back line of Barrass CHF Blank FB or the other way around with Battle playing the Ben Stratton role.

Or would this make us to slow with Chol in the Second Ruck resting forward role.

When Dear and then Lewis Return

So a forward line of Dear, Lewis, Chol and Sicily? I can’t see it happening.

Blanck will likely only need Barrass and Frost to go down barring some exceptional form in the VFL in which case he will still need a player to miss.

 

[Brant]

So a forward line of Dear, Lewis, Chol and Sicily? I can’t see it happening.

Blanck will likely only need Barrass and Frost to go down barring some exceptional form in the VFL in which case he will still need a player to miss.

I doubt they'd line up like that way too often, but if I were Sicily & I saw Lewis, Dear & Chol up forward then I'd be pretty bloody confident that I could sneak forward during play & find a mismatch near the Goal Square.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Round 9-14 will define our season, in order dees, suns, lions, pies, dogs, crows then we get a bye.

Games are harder and faster then ever, going to be a very interesting mid year. Dogs should get stronger, Adelaide will be tough and depending on how a team brings the pressure from week to week their are no easy games.

 

[TylerDurden]

Round 9-14 will define our season, in order dees, suns, lions, pies, dogs, crows then we get a bye.

Games are harder and faster then ever, going to be a very interesting mid year. Dogs should get stronger, Adelaide will be tough and depending on how a team brings the pressure from week to week their are no easy games.

Suns is in Darwin. Don't like our chances there.

 

[moginie]

Suns is in Darwin. Don't like our chances there.

On a five day break too.

 

[CHUBBSS]

On a five day break too.

That sounds about as hard a game as any

 

[Mitch75]

Round 9-14 will define our season, in order dees, suns, lions, pies, dogs, crows then we get a bye.

Games are harder and faster then ever, going to be a very interesting mid year. Dogs should get stronger, Adelaide will be tough and depending on how a team brings the pressure from week to week their are no easy games.

That’s a pretty tough run of games, for sure. Hopefully after the great 3-0 start, we can be no worse than 6-2 after the round 8 game against Richmond, heading into this stretch. That would really set us up well for a tilt at the top 4, which would require at least 15, if not 16 wins, you’d think.

 

[peetoo]

GWS port Geelong not challenging enough?

 

[Mitch75]

GWS port Geelong not challenging enough?

Yes, the next three are tough too! We could potentially lose all of those. But hopefully we can win at least one, if not two and then we have West Coast and Richmond, which on paper at least, should be wins. To this point of the season I was hoping for a 2-1 record. With three straight wins though we’re in great shape to make a tilt for the top 4.

 

[Luke_Hodgey_15]

On a five day break too.

I'd love to see a graphic that shows how often each team goes into a game with a shorter or longer break than their opponent. It feels like most weeks we have a shorter break, though that might be all in my head

edit
I did a quick calculation for Hawks (-11 days break vs opponents), Geelong (-2) and Collingwood (+18) across the first 15 rounds. Insane.

 

[CHUBBSS]

I'd love to see a graphic that shows how often each team goes into a game with a shorter or longer break than their opponent. It feels like most weeks we have a shorter break, though that might be all in my head

edit
I did a quick calculation for Hawks (-11 days break vs opponents), Geelong (-2) and Collingwood (+18) across the first 15 rounds. Insane.

How much have Collingwood paid the afl this year, their love from the umpires and fixturing is just odd at this point

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Seeing some interesting things this year.

A backline stacked with talls that are good kicks (Sicily, Barass, Scrimshaw and Battle. It's reminding me of that period of Geelong's dominance where they always had more than 2 intercept marking defenders.

We finally have the pieces to see how Mitchell wants to set up for flexibility. Hardwick and Sicily moving forward and back. I think the extra element was there when Worpel played which includes Newcombe and Day rolling forward more.

The celebrations and rascal behaviour is dialed down to almost zero

The two avenues to goal from D50 (handball through the corridor or slice on the outside) have been refined extremely well.

We've had a different best 3 or 4 players each week.

We have a different kind of confidence this year. We've gone from cocky to confident.

 

[bigmaxi]

Seeing some interesting things this year.

A backline stacked with talls that are good kicks (Sicily, Barass, Scrimshaw and Battle. It's reminding me of that period of Geelong's dominance where they always had more than 2 intercept marking defenders.

We finally have the pieces to see how Mitchell wants to set up for flexibility. Hardwick and Sicily moving forward and back. I think the extra element was there when Worpel played which includes Newcombe and Day rolling forward more.

The celebrations and rascal behaviour is dialed down to almost zero

The two avenues to goal from D50 (handball through the corridor or slice on the outside) have been refined extremely well.

We've had a different best 3 or 4 players each week.

We have a different kind of confidence this year. We've gone from cocky to confident.

That’s the sign of maturity this year as a posed to last. Got a job to do this year. There’re all in.

 

[Roddy]

Interesting.

Massive scope for improvement for a side sitting pretty on top.

23K views · 89 reactions | CD Hawks. | "They can improve on that." Sam Mitchell is certain the Hawks must improve to win the flag... and Champion Data thinks the same. | By SEN 1116 | Facebook

"They can improve on that." Sam Mitchell is certain the Hawks must improve to win the flag... and Champion Data thinks the same.

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