One of Hawthorn Coach Sam Mitchell’s first priorities will be getting his new look coaching team together in-person to devise Hawk's game style for the 2022 season.

Mitchell will lead a fresh-look coaching panel in 2022 alongside new assistant coaches Adrian Hickmott, David Hale, Andy Collins and Robert Harvey as well as Chris Newman and Andy Otten.

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In an expansive interview with The Age on Saturday, Mitchell said the first thing he wants is to “get all of the coaches on board”, with the group unable to yet meet face-to-face due to COVID-19 border restrictions.

“I obviously have my views on where the game is going and how the game is best played, where the best teams are at, and when we are ready to be one of those best sides what I think the game might look like at that point,” he said.

“But I am also not naive enough to think I am the only person with ideas within our organisation.

“I will get all of our coaches together and discuss what works for us. Some of it will be my thinking.”

With the 2021 AFL trade period now underway, Mitchell said he was comfortable with the back line and while he would favour bringing in the best talent, he recognises the midfield and forward line are bigger priorities.

He said while the club has started to bring in some fresh talent during the last 12 months, there was more to be done. 

“CJ has had significant up-lift in performance, Denver Grainger-Barras has come in, Will Day has come in and started to have an influence, Lachie Bramble, second half of his year, Jack Scrimshaw, second part of his year, were quite strong. Blake Hardwick has been solid too,” Mitchell said.

“Then in the front end you have the hopeful emergence of Mitch Lewis and certainly this year it was Jacob Koschitzke who came from nowhere and had a strong season, so there is some upside in what we have been able to do with our youth over the last 12 months.”

Mitchell, who was the head coach at Box Hill Hawks this year, said he preferred the idea of scoring more heavily and not over-possessing the ball, but was yet to committed to a specific style at Hawthorn.

“I think Hawthorn over the last five years has had quite a defensive DNA and I certainly don’t want to lose some of the excellent defensive concepts Hawthorn have,” Mitchell said.

“But by the same token being able to score has been a trouble for us, so certainly I would like to be a team that can trouble oppositions with scoring.

“I think the game is quite defensive at the moment and I think our fans would love a more attacking brand of play across the competition, not necessarily Hawthorn, but just the way the game is played.”

Mitchell said it was important to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the squad to determine what can be best utilised.

“For instance, if you have a lot of strong midfielders and a weaker forward line you might play an extra midfielder up around the ball. If you have got potent, dangerous forwards you are more likely to leave them. If you have good intercepting defenders, you might pay more a lay-off type,” he said.

“Players and game styles and all of these moving parts. Territory versus possession, no one plays all one style or all another, whether it’s because of age, youth. It’s all balancing acts.”

The 38-year-old began his playing career almost two decades ago at the Hawks, notching up 307 games in the brown and gold before departing the club at the end of the 2016 season. 

But Mitchell said his reputation for being uncompromising as a player and captain was a relic of his playing days and he was a different person after retirement.

“I wouldn’t say I am uncompromising, that is not something that has been associated over the last few years,” he said.

“The way I think of it now is every player with me, you will know where you stand, and you will know what is expected.

“If you don’t live up to that, and if I don’t live up to that, well I am certainly going to be first to say ‘hey, I didn’t coach as well as I could have on this day or this situation.’

“Some people love being screamed at on the training track because that drives them. Some people like an arm around and a quiet word, some players enjoy coming around to your house having a cup of coffee and spending time with your family. Some players enjoy being torn shreds off in a one-on-one review, and for some players that would be the worst thing for them.

“I think I will be transparent, and everyone will know where they stand ... I am certainly a coach who I think is very supportive of the players, but that doesn’t stop me holding them to account and making the standards of what we expect are adhered to, to give us team success.”

To read the full article from The Age, click here.