Coach Sam Mitchell has been impressed by the early performances of top-10 draft pick Cameron Mackenzie.

The Pick 7 from last year’s draft was brilliant in Thursday’s narrow practice match loss to Collingwood, notching up 24 disposals and a game-high 11 score involvements, along with five inside 50s, four clearances and a goal.

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While the Hawks ultimately went down by six points, Mitchell's young troops stole the lead in the third quarter and showed plenty of promise for what's to come in season 2023. 

Speaking on SEN’s Whateley on Monday, Mitchell said he was delighted to see the "level-headed" Mackenzie knuckle down and have a strong impact.

“I love watching the draftees when they play,” Mitchell said. 

“We had a couple the week before who were saying, ‘Wow, that’s Patrick Dangerfield, or wow, that’s Mark Blicavs’. They played a little bit like that, they actually forgot they were good at football themselves.

“Cam Mackenzie is such a level-headed young lad, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him excited or disappointed in anything that he’s done. He’s just very, very consistent in the way he goes about it. I don’t think he would show any less effort if it was a grand final or if it was a practice game.

“He just continues to play in the same way with the same demeanour, which I’m sure at some stage I’m going to find quite frustrating because I’ll want something out of him.

“At the moment he’s just performing. Every time he’s played, he’s played well so I’m really pleased with his performances so far.”

With intrigue growing surrounding the possible line-up for Hawthorn's season opener against Essendon, Mitchell is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding a potential debut for the 19-year-old midfielder.

“I’m not sure yet, we’re not into selection just yet,” Mitchell said.

“We obviously had a couple of guys missing or rested from that game (against Collingwood) so it’s going to be a squeeze.

“I think every club will be in this position, but perhaps we haven’t for a while and that’s having really good players who deserve a game not getting one.

“There’ll be a couple of unlucky lads in our squad in the coming weeks.”

Mitchell believes his largely inexperienced group just needs to bridge the gap between their best and worst in order to progress this season.

“When you look at a guy like him (Mackenzie), he’s going to play some really good games,” Mitchell said.

“Not just specifically speaking about him, Jai Newcombe was a guy who did it last year. We look at his good games and think, ‘Wow’, he’s such an impressive lad, but he has some quiet games in amongst them.

“When you watch the best teams and the best players in the competition, their quiet games are still very, very strong. That’s where our challenge will be when our players individually or collectively have a game that wasn’t at their best, are we still going to be capable? At our best I think we saw enough talent from enough of these young guys to say their best is going to be pretty strong.

“We need to produce that as often as we can and limit the risk when they’re not at their best.”

Mitchell added that he has also been pleased with the early showings of several other brown and gold recruits including that of former Port Adelaide star Karl Amon. 

"Karl's been just fantastic, he's had a great influence on the group so far," Mitchell said.

"Across the pre-season we've done a lot of leadership education and training standards and behaviours - and he was never really the first name, but he was always in the top five in every category that we assessed. 

"He's a great trainer, he's got a great work ethic, he's got really strong relationships, he helps with the coaches with game style - he's a really well-rounded young man and we're really pleased that he has come on board.

"He holds himself to such a high standard which is really strong behaviour that our young players need to start looking up to as well over the journey."

The Hawks kick off their 2023 season against Essendon at the MCG on Sunday March 19.

Listen to the full chat of Mitchell on SEN below.