{"id":869314,"date":"2026-08-26T18:14:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/869314\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T18:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:14:21","slug":"afl-sam-mitchell-confident-hawks-game-style-built-for-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/869314\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL: Sam Mitchell confident Hawks\u2019 game style built for finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a quiet confidence to Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell ahead of September.<\/p>\n

The fourth-placed Hawks have never finished higher on the ladder under Mitchell, but they first face minor premier Fremantle, which is yet to lose at home in 2026.<\/p>\n

Mitchell says certain styles and players are better suited to the pointy end of the season, and he believes the Hawks have the game to match it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think all coaches have a level of understanding,\u201d Mitchell said, promoting the Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat there are certain style of games and players that are more likely to work in season and there are some that are going stand up in the high pressure games<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, you can\u2019t have your whole game built around finals intensity because that\u2019s not the way the game is played most of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the intensity of these games, generally, steps a little bit, so you want to make sure your game style is compatible with finals footy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s been one of the filters we\u2019ve used in a lot of the decision-making over the past five years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel like the way we play stands up in these games. We\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hawthorn is one of Fremantle\u2019s 12 Perth Stadium scalps after the Dockers broke the game open with a dazzling fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Mitchell is refreshing during the wildcard week off, stressing the importance of time with family ahead of a busy finals series.<\/p>\n

But his initial view is that both teams have evolved and will be armed with different threats by Thursday week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t reviewed it again yet, we will over the next couple weeks of course but their best is very good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played some pretty good footy that day, we just couldn\u2019t do it for long enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think both teams have changed quite a bit, that\u2019s probably three months ago \u2026 so we need to make sure we\u2019re ready for what they bring and bringing some of our own threats to them is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitchell\u2019s first finals campaign ended in a heartbreaking semi-final defeat and his second included a strong run from eighth to the preliminary final.<\/p>\n

These Hawks have slowly ticked off milestones, leaving just the final Saturday of the season and lifting the cup on their checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis time last year we finished eighth, got on the road pretty much straight away and won a couple of finals interstate, which we hadn\u2019t been able to do,\u201d Michell said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was one of the things we put a feather in our cap about, being able to perform on the big stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we have confidence that our best is good enough, we just have to produce that when it really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key difference in Hawthorn this final series is the fitness of dynamic midfielder Will Day.<\/p>\n

Mitchell says no one is more excited to see the No 12 in the finals than Day himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not as excited as him, I think,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hasn\u2019t got this far in a season \u2026 he\u2019s been motoring along pretty well and I thought he played well against the Eagles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so pleased he\u2019s been able to get back into some form, and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing him don the brown and gold in September for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitchell is eager to take his kids to wildcard weekend as a football fan in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

Through the partnership with DrinkWise, Mitchell hopes to help promote the passionate but safe atmosphere he loves sharing with them at the footy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really pleased to be back on board and return to the Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cExtra week of finals this year with the wildcard round \u2013 we want to make sure that everyone doesn\u2019t miss anything and has a great time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one of the great things about our sport is that everyone can go and feel safe, you can take your kids, sit in the outer and have a great time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just want to make sure if you do choose to have a drink, do it responsibly with the respect of themselves and those around them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally published as AFL: Sam Mitchell confident Hawks\u2019 game style is \u2018built for finals\u2019 footy<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a quiet confidence to Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell ahead of September. 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