Hawthorn Senior Coach Sam Mitchell’s sights are set on the Crows, as the Hawks prepare for another important game in their season.
The Hawks coach addressed the media on Friday, speaking on this weekend's game as well as the excitement around the team and the upcoming milestone for Captain James Sicily.
Read some of the key points from his press conference below.
On the excitement around the team
“Certainly it’s been fever pitch from the outside. It’s funny, football clubs are amazing things. When you get inside the four walls, we got in quite early this morning and the players are in there all doing their craft and working really hard on improving their games. We watched an oppo preview this morning where we looked at how to pull apart Adelaide and what’s going to be important in the game so you’re very focused on the process of what’s required and that’s where I think football clubs are great. If you pick up a newspaper or listen to the radio, you see a whole different side of the game which is what makes the theatre of sport so fantastic. Inside, we’re very, very focused on what we need to do this week.”
On facing the Crows
“If you look at Adelaide, I think they’ve done really well over the last month, so they’ve won three out of their last four since their bye. What they’ve been able to do is score really quickly in periods of games. We know we’re going to have to be able to play four quarters against a quality side on their home deck and it’s an important game for them. I think the consistency of how we play at this oval in particular at this oval is going to be important because it’s hurt us twice this year.”
On James Sicily’s upcoming 150th game
“I’m really proud of Sis. If you look at his journey and where he started, he was a young fella that came in as a forward and to be captain of the club and to be playing obviously under a little bit of duress at the moment and to really help us in so many different ways on the field is probably what you guys see the most but off the field as well, he’s done a great job of carrying the leadership load of our group in the last couple of years. His growth as a human being has been amazing. Going to his wedding and being a part of his growth as a person and as a player has been outstanding. I’m really proud of him for getting to 150 and hopefully, we can put in a good performance for him.”
Watch Mitchell’s full press conference below.
