SAM Mitchell says the Hawks are looking forward to facing the Bombers for the first time this season at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Despite succumbing to Geelong by 67 points on Friday night, the Bombers have won 11 matches so far this season to sit in sixth place on the AFL ladder.
It is their win/loss record of 11 wins and five losses, however, that has seen the Bombers come into premiership calculations amongst many football commentators.
Mitchell says that the Bombers are certainly a “side to watch”.
“They’ve got some genuinely good AFL players now,” Mitchell said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.
“They’re certainly a side to watch.
“We’re pretty excited to play against them on Friday, it’s another huge challenge.”
The Hawks and Bombers have enjoyed a number of physical contests in the past, and the Hawthorn hard man is looking forward to another close contest.
The Hawthorn star says the Hawks are expecting contested football to be the hallmark of the game on Friday night, and the Hawks will be ready for the battle.
“Against Essendon it’s usually a much more contested game,” Mitchell said.
“They’re usually pretty physical games.
“They’re genuinely clean and hard and contested games and we’re looking forward to that.
“We think we can match them in that area, which is an area that they’ve been very, very good at.”
Essendon captain Jobe Watson is enjoying another stellar season to date, averaging 29 disposals and is ranked as the second-best clearance player in the league, behind West Coast’s Matthew Priddis.
Mitchell could be headed for a match up with the Essendon star, a match-up up that, if it eventuated could be key to the fate of both sides.
“Watson is close to the best contested possession player in the league,” Mitchell said.
“Dealing with players like that, and being able to compete with them and then beat them at their own game is going to be something that’s important on Friday night.
“He’s a very good player, he’s very strong and very hard to defend because he’s so good on the ground and in the air.
“He’s having a stellar season and someone we’re going to put a lot of time into this week.”
The Hawks, however, won’t just be focusing on the Essendon skipper.
“They’ve got other good players as well, they’re midfield is probably a little underrated,” Mitchell said.
“Watson and [Brent] Stanton get the big accolades but they’ve got other guys running through there like Hocking in particular who’s a real gutsy player who plays hard and tough.
“He’s an important player as well.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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