Sam Mitchell says he can’t wait to get to work as he heads into his first year as Hawthorn’s senior coach.

Mitchell is now almost three months into his role as coach and has been buoyed by the support of those around him and the alignment of the playing group.

In an interview with the Herald Sun on Sunday, he spoke candidly on several topics including his new coaching group, the support of his family and returning stars in 2022.

Check out the key points from the interview.

Hawthorn’s future direction

Mitchell said he is "really proud" that Hawthorn's senior players including Luke Breust and Jack Gunston have wanted to stay at the club.

"It said a lot about the confidence they have in the club, in our list, and in the direction we’re going,” Mitchell said.

He said a heartfelt conversation with Breust during this year's trade period gave him renewed confidence in the players’ belief in the club’s future direction.

Breust was faced with significant offer from Greater Western Sydney, but his discussions with Mitchell always came back to one thing – he didn’t want to leave.

“I had one of the most memorable conversations of my life, probably outside of my family life, with Luke Breust,” Mitchell said.

“He said ‘Look, I’m really committed to the direction we are going in. When the next premiership comes, I’m going to feel so proud – whether I’m a part of it or not – that I was able to guide and influence and lead the people who play in it’.

“That will be his legacy. The way he spoke with such passion, it just made me think we are on the right track.”

Young players take the lead

Just as he has been delighted with the passion shown by the senior players, Mitchell has noted the step up in leadership of the younger group.

“James Worpel, Dylan Moore and Will Day have started to recognise the fact that this is going to be their club,” he said.

“They need to not only get the best out of themselves, but to push the other people around them.

“We have been really lucky with Ben McEvoy, Jack Gunston, Liam Shiels and Luke Breust; their ability to guide the younger group has been good.

“But what we’re seeing now is that some of the younger group has started to drive the group underneath them.”

Draft haul

Mitchell experienced his first national draft as senior coach last week, working closely with recruiting boss Mark McKenzie and his team.

The Hawks selected Josh Ward with Pick 7, as well as Sam Butler, Connor MacDonald and Jai Serong with Picks 23, 26 and 53 before also taking Ned Long in the rookie draft.

“We probably looked at talent a bit more than positional (requirements),” Mitchell said.

“Some of the focuses were culture and character. We thought the five lads we brought in, and the top three who I knew more about, were all high achievers.

“Our plan from a cultural point of view was to bring in high work ethic players of good character. That will drive our standards and push us forward to where we want to go.”

Triple H’s

Mitchell has dubbed his three new assistant coaches – Adrian Hickmott, David Hale and Robert Harvey – as the Triple H’s.

He couldn’t be happier with his support staff, including assistant coach Chris Newman, new head of development Andy Collins, development coach Andy Otten, and new Box Hill coach Clint Proctor.

“We have introduced a few things to the program, and we need to find ways to improve the standards and the culture of the place,” Mitchell said.  

“Someone like Robert Harvey, who I haven’t had much to do with prior to this, has brought a different look and a way to do things.”

Returning stars

After being sidelined with injuries, the likely return of trio James Sicily, Jack Gunston and Will Day next season brings a smile to Mitchell’s face.

Sicily spent the season recovering from a knee reconstruction, but his knowledge base has increased after spending significant time with the coaches and in the recruiting space.

“James has done an enormous amount of work over the last few months to get himself fit,” he said.

“Getting James to see the game from a coaches’ perspective will make him a better player when he comes back.”

Gunston is eager to also make up for lost time after playing only one game last season due to a back issue.

“He is not doing as much change of direction and ball work, but watching him running around the outside of the oval, he is running like a gazelle,” Mitchell said.

Two separate ankle injuries cruelled Day’s 2021, with the defender playing only five games. Mitchell said the 20-year-old was going to be a slow progression.

“It hasn’t been a recurrence of injuries; it has been more impact (injuries), so he will be back, and we need guys like Will going forward,” he said.

Game style

Mitchell wants Hawthorn to retain its defensive DNA, but hints there could be a more attacking bent in game style and ball movement.

“Hawthorn has got strong defensive systems, as we all know, but there’s still a lot of learning to be done,” he said.  

“We have already started some training that is reasonably physical, but in a safe way, as we don’t want impact injuries.

“We want to make sure we are strong enough in the body because you have hundreds of contests per game, and you have to be able to win those.”

Family synergy

Mitchell said he is “enormously fortunate” to have wife Lyndall and his three children Smith, Scarlett and Emmerson so supportive of the work he is doing.

“It’s a really exciting period and we will go through the journey together as a family. At the same time, I’m on their journey as well,” Mitchell said.

“Rather than I’m at work or I’m at home, it has always been how I can involve the two. It has been a pretty open-door policy at the house.

“Even though it has been a little more challenging with the Covid stuff, we have players and staff here regularly as Lyndall and the kids are also a part of the club.”

Player vs coach

Mitchell, who played 307 games for the Hawks, said there are some similarities between him as a player and as a coach.

“I might go from having a laugh and a really big smile and having a great time, to driving the boys hard when the drills start – I make no apologies for that,” Mitchell said.

“I was probably a bit more serious as a player. I hope I can have a bit more fun as a coach, but the other coaches tell me that’s all well and good now.

“I’ve asked the other coaches to make sure I still have a bit of fun over the journey.”

To read the full article from the Herald Sun click here.