Sam Mitchell says he looking forward to driving a “new frontier” in 2022 which consists of a revamped coaching group and club environment.

It comes as the whole playing group returned for their first training session of the 2022 pre-season together this week.

Speaking to the media on Monday, the Hawthorn coach said he was confident the club was heading in the right direction.

“We’ll spend the next couple weeks just getting reconnected, setting some new standards and making some cultural changes around the place,” Mitchell said.

“We’re finding our own feet – we’ve got a new coach, a lot of new assistant coaches and a new environment – we’re starting a new frontier really.

“The challenge for us is being the best version of ourselves, we’ve got to be the best Hawthorn Football Club we can be.”

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Despite having only recently started working all together, Mitchell said his new-look coaching group were also going from strength to strength.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with how the coaches have bonded and worked together over the last month," he said.

“David Hale, Adrian Hickmott, and Robert Harvey all come from different clubs, they’ve all got different skillsets, but the most exciting thing for us is they’ve all brought a lot of different ideas.

“When we sit together and discuss how things could be done there are a lot of people coming from a lot of different places and then my job is to be able to filter that and get the best plan possible."

The returns of experienced stars James Sicily and Jack Gunston to the track also have Mitchell excited.

Sicily hasn't played since Round 12, 2020 when he tore his ACL in the final minutes of the clash against West Coast.

Mitchell said the 26-year-old continues to show a "great presence" on the track.

"He'd be available to play if we were playing now; we're not in a rush to have him do everything, but he's certainly ready to go," Mitchell said.

"Even at the end of training when everyone's tired and fatigued, he kept missing a certain kick and he's asking why he's doing that. He just has this mentality to get the best out of himself."

Mitchell said it was also pleasing to see Gunston participate in some skills work again for the first time since his ongoing back troubles.

The 30-year-old underwent additional back surgery at the end of last season, in which he featured in just one game.

"The boys all got around him, which was great. He's certainly running fast and he's getting more involved in what we're doing," Mitchell said.

Mitchell also highlighted the current health of his playing group, which he declared would all be available for Round 1.

Monday's session began with 3x1km time trials, and among the stand-outs was draftee Josh Ward with the 18-year-old winning two of three rounds.

"He looks good," Mitchell said.

"But we haven't played a game, we haven't had a tackling session, so there's a lot of water to go under the bridge.

"But you understand when you watch him why he was an early pick. We drafted five lads and I think they’re all physically ready to play the game."