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Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell likes to tell midfielder Conor Nash to \u201cplay Irish\u201d.<\/p>\n
It is a directive open to interpretation, but the lad from County Meath knows what he means.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just [doing] some of the quirkier things, like a lot more of the kicks around the corner, running to a bit more unusual spots. They\u2019re the things that he doesn\u2019t want me to lose. It\u2019s just keeping that difference and being able to see the game in a different way,\u201d Nash said.<\/p>\n
Nash does see the game differently, having been an elite rugby union junior in the renowned Leinster rugby program in Ireland, his height and athleticism making him a brilliant full-back. He also played Gaelic football at school and won a County Meath men\u2019s title with Simonstown Gaels in 2016 and 2017.<\/p>\n
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Luke Jackson battles Nash at Optus Stadium.Credit: AFL Photos<\/p>\n
Mitchell wants the lessons learned on rough fields under overcast skies to become an asset, an instinctive point of difference that confounds opponents. He encourages Nash to express those talents in games.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the natural eye of the Aussie punter [the decisions might seem] a bit strange [thinking] why is he doing that? Well, they\u2019re things that Mitch probably wants me to keep doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nash has flourished under Mitchell, first training with him as a 15-year-old when invited to a session at Croke Park during the international rules series when Australia lobbed in Dublin in 2015 with Alastair Clarkson as coach.<\/p>\n
He remembers Jarryd Roughead laughing as he reminded the ultra-competitive Cat, Harry Taylor, that the kid helping out with the round ball was a teenager after he saw Taylor\u2019s fist go into the back of Nash\u2019s head in an attempted spoil.<\/p>\n
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Nash had to start from scratch as he learned the Hawks wayCredit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Nash was already on the Hawks\u2019 radar. He had been spotted playing Gaelic football at his school, St Patrick\u2019s Classical School, in Navan, a 33,000-strong town about 50 kilometres north-west of Dublin. But in reality his one wood was rugby union.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ask me, \u2018what do I miss?\u2019 Rugby union is what I miss,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nash\u2019s sporting heroes were Brian O\u2019Driscoll, the legendary Irish centre, and high-scoring Irish fly-half Ronan O\u2019Gara, and there was no way he was missing the British and Irish Lions match against the Wallabies at the MCG in July.<\/a><\/p>\n But he became fascinated with AFL, visiting Melbourne regularly for short trips, staying with a host family and becoming used to what his life might look like if he jumped sports and shifted across the world.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n Nash made the leap in 2016, and recalls the battle to develop his game was more of a mental than physical challenge.<\/p>\n It was humbling, Nash said, to go from being among the best at his sport to being average in comparison to those he was training alongside.<\/p>\n He realised it was important in the early days, therefore, to be kind to himself and have a positive mindset as he learned a new skill.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m starting from scratch. Some guys get really frustrated then, and it is frustrating not being the main player or being able to do things that you could do back home,\u201d Nash said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to work through that mentally, and I would go to sessions early and just hitting a simple kick is nothing for most, but, for you, it can take an entire session.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n \u201cLittle wins or little gains, [like] just hitting a simple kick\u2026 It\u2019s something to get out of the session rather than doing cool things, real sexy kicks or big marks, and stuff like that you might have been able to do previously.\u201d<\/p>\n Nash made his debut in 2018 and played finals in his fourth and fifth games, developing under Clarkson without becoming a permanent fixture.<\/p>\n That changed when Mitchell started as Hawks coach in 2022 and Nash went into the midfield, where his 198-centimetre frame and ability to do a job made him a key part of the Hawks\u2019 mix. He also took his turn in the ruck when required.<\/p>\n Mitchell\u2019s \u201cplay Irish\u201d message also helped him relax on the field, with chaos part of what he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve become a real student of the game in terms of knowing the game and strategies and tactics and that but, at the end of the day, it\u2019s when you get bogged down by them that it\u2019s probably hurt me in the past,\u201d Nash said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s being too selfless and worrying about different structures and being in the right place. It\u2019s more instinct, which [Mitchell] was phenomenal at doing, so that\u2019s why it reminds me [to relax].\u201d<\/p>\n Gryan Miers was forced from the field after this incident with Nash on Easter Monday.Credit: Seven Footy<\/p>\n Nash took some time to find his feet against the Giants\u2019 Tom Green in last weekend\u2019s elimination final<\/a>, but began to flow as Hawthorn settled \u2013 his clean hands and decision-making showing his growth.<\/p>\n He even took his second bounce for the season on Saturday as he drew Jack Ginnivan\u2019s opponent and took the pressure from behind, before handballing to his teammate in space, who was able to goal.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n![\"Gryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0fc3d5eaa26651dede16f6b638d8f3f820e0c840c95f76fbd9cccde4014a2f68.gif\")
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