With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations, Chris Fagan.
Champion midfielder Sam Mitchell became a triple premiership player with the Hawks in season 2014 but his year wasn’t without its ups and downs.
Like a lot of his teammates, Mitchell faced some challenges this season and none bigger than overcoming a serious hamstring injury that saw him miss nine weeks of footy.
It meant Mitchell played 16 of a possible 25 games for the Hawks, his lowest tally since 2005 when he played 14 games.
But in true Sam Mitchell fashion, the nuggety midfielder bounced back to play a critical role in Hawthorn’s back-to-back premierships and was recognised as such by being named the side’s best player in the finals series by his coaches.
It was a remarkable finals series from the four-time Peter Crimmins Medallist, averaging 31.6 disposals, 9.0 marks, 6.3 tackles and 5.6 clearances across the three games.
To truly appreciate his performances in those games though, you must look at them in isolation.
Mitchell opened his finals campaign in emphatic fashion, picking up a series-high 36 disposals against the Cats in the Qualifying Final along with five marks, six clearances and an incredible four goal assists.
He then had 26 touches against the Power in the Preliminary Final along with four clearances and despite not being known for his tackling, recorded eight tackles.
The former captain was then unlucky not to win the Norm Smith Medal in the Grand Final after 33 disposals, nine tackles, seven clearances and a goal assist.
Interestingly, that was actually Mitchell’s finest performance in his three Grand Final victories, having recorded just 12 disposals in last year’s decider against Fremantle and 13 against Geelong in 2008.
Mitchell ended the year just as brilliantly as he started it, having averaged 31 disposals, 5.2 marks, 4.2 clearances and 2.8 tackles before suffering the injury in Round 7.
In fact, the star midfielder actually gathered 36 disposals three times in his first five matches of the season, against Fremantle, Gold Coast and Richmond in rounds 3, 4 and 6.
Once he returned from injury too, in Round 16 it didn’t take him long to produce a high-level performance.
He was the standout Hawk in the crucial win over Adelaide in Adelaide in Round 17 with a team-high 28 disposals, eight tackles and three clearances.
When looking at the stats at the end of the year, Mitchell actually finished the season ranked number one at the Hawks for disposals (28.1) and centre clearances (2.7) and was ranked second behind teammate Jordan Lewis for clearances (5.2) and third for contested possessions.
Despite the mid-season hiccup, 2014 was another outstanding season for Mitchell mixing again between midfield and half-back.
What can the master midfielder produce in 2015?
What GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said: “We missed him during that long stretch where he was out injured in the middle of the season but he was able to come back and find some form.
“He was our best player in the finals – in particular he was influential in the first half of the Grand Final with his ball-winning ability and smart decision-making.
“It’s unusual for him to miss some games but if you asked him about his year, he’d probably be hugely satisfied with his finals series. This would mean a lot to Sam.”
Sam Mitchell in the news in 2014
- Young guns have pushed us further: Mitchell
- Coaches split as Mitchell claims top Hawk honours
- Mitchell set for extended injury layoff
Videos featuring Sam Mitchell in 2014
- PCM: Sam Mitchell acceptance speech
- Mitchell ready for the Grand Final
