Before his team’s match against Brisbane on Sunday afternoon, Hawthorn Senior Coach Sam Mitchell has made a statement.
Sam Mitchell, the senior coach of Hawthorn, has addressed the media in advance of his team’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round matchup with Brisbane on Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
Mitchell discussed the round’s importance, the team’s plans to subdue the Lions, and how they plan to recover from their one-point setback to Yartapuulti.
Listen to the Hawks coach’s press conference below to hear his thoughts on these subjects and more.
On the loss against Yartapuulti
“We did give it a good, hard look. We still have a lot to learn about how to respond in those kinds of circumstances. We even lost that game the week before despite leading at the end of the fourth quarter, so we got away with it that time and didn’t on the weekend. We still have a lot to learn about managing close-game situations. We certainly gave that one a good close examination to see what we could have done better to ensure that we’re better equipped the next time we find ourselves in that situation.
On the game against the Lions this week
“I believe that, depending on the conditions, we prepare for each game and each pitch slightly differently. We will be practicing moving the ball in a specific way today because we know the conditions will be slippery. Whatever the surface, the fundamentals of the game, the ball pressure, and our strategy in close games are crucial, particularly when facing a team like Brisbane who are so superior in all facets of the game.
On Nick Watson being managed
“Nick’s year has gone well so far, though his ankle has undoubtedly caused some disruptions. His hamstring was becoming more tense after we had already made the substitution, so we attempted to position him deeper, but he ended up sprinting even more. Thankfully, the scan revealed no damage, but because of his heavy overload and lack of recovery, it was not worth taking a chance on him, especially given his young age and bright future. We are going to give him a week off to ensure he has fully recovered and rested.
On the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round
“I believe that everyone is pursuing an education regarding Indigenous Australians and the First Nations people who inhabit our surroundings. Jars (Jarman Impey) is an amazing leader in his own right, but he also acknowledges that he’s still learning. This creates a safe space for all of us to try and learn more, figure out more, make sure we’re as inclusive as we can be, and keep moving in the right direction in that regard.
