Hawthorn had seven wins, two draws and 13 losses, finishing 14th, just behind Carlton on percentage, in season 2021.
They were competitive for the most part, when taking into account all the noise about Sam Mitchell taking over as coach from Alastair Clarkson in season 2022. Despite Clarkson coaching four premierships, Hawthorn haven’t been in the finals since 2018, which isn’t acceptable for a coach of his calibre.
The fact is that Hawthorn had the microscope on them throughout season 2021, but they still managed to draw against the Melbourne Demons and the Richmond Tigers, in Round 18 and Round 23. It must have been tough for everyone involved in the club as the majority of people were critical of the decision made to change coaches.
Irrespective of who’s right or wrong, a coach’s tenure has to end some time, so maybe Hawthorn could benefit from a new voice at the helm, with Sam Mitchell to take the reins in season 2022.
There’s no doubt that Hawthorn will benefit from the return of James Sicily from injury, who’s a quality key defender.
Hawthorn go into season 2022 with the third-youngest list in the AFL with an average age of 23.8, so it looks like they will probably be rebuilding, but Sam Mitchell was a competitor as a player so you never know. The fact that Hawthorn only lost one of their last six games, against the Adelaide Crows in Round 19, shows there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Hawks.
Blake Hardwick will be an important part of Hawthorn’s team and should be a mainstay in their best 22 in season 2022. He finished second in Hawthorn’s best and fairest in season 2021. He averaged the second most metres gained of any of Hawthorn’s players in 2021 with an average of 390.75 metres gained.
Hardwick is a midsized defender who’s capable of playing a pivotal role in a team that could surprise any opposition that takes them lightly in season 2022. He averaged a respectable 5.15 intercepts per game in season 2021.
He featured in 20 of 22 games, only missing Round 17 and Round 18 through injury. Having an average of 83.69 per cent disposal efficiency was the second-highest for Hawthorn in season 2021, which he should look to replicate in season 2022.
James Worpel needs to improve as he is capable of finishing much higher in the Hawthorn best and fairest than his equal ninth finish in season 2021. He only missed two games in season 2021, but would be disappointed that he had less than 20 disposals on eight occasions.
Worpel had an average of 8.45 contested possessions per game, which was the fourth-highest of any Hawthorn player in season 2021. The fact is that he needs to improve and win more of the ball in season 2022 as Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara can’t do everything as far as Hawthorn’s inside midfielders are concerned.
There’s no doubt that Worpel has potential that he needs to fulfil if Hawthorn are to play in finals in season 2022.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Mitchell Lewis was a pivotal part of Hawthorn’s team in the 14 games that he played in season 2021; he averaged the most contested marks of any of Hawthorn’s players with an average of 1.79 contested marks per game. Hawthorn didn’t lose a game with Lewis in the team in the last four games of last season, which included wins over the Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, and a draw against Richmond.
Lewis averaged 4.71 score involvements per game in season 2021, playing as a key forward, which is something he can improve on in season 2022. He averaged the second-most goals of any Hawthorn player with an average of 1.57 goals per game.
Despite that, he kicked at least one goal per game in 14 games in season 2021, which is remarkable. He will need to kick more goals in season 2022, which he should do, provided he stays injury free.
Tom Mitchell has plenty of pressure on him to perform well and keep on winning a lot of the ball. He may have won the Hawthorn best and fairest fairly comfortably, but he needs to improve his disposal efficiency with an average of 74.56 per cent season 2021.
Along with that he averaged the second-most contested possessions with an average of 11.59 contested possessions per game, which he needs to improve on as he wins so much of the ball.
Mitchell did average the most disposals of any player in the competition with an average of 34.32 per game in season 2021. When he didn’t have the ball, he worked fairly hard, with the third-most tackles of any Hawthorn player with an average of 4.86 tackles per game in season 2021.
His durability is also a strength of his as he featured in all 22 games that Hawthorn played. He was the only player from Hawthorn to be selected in the All Australian squad, but he would be disappointed that he wasn’t selected in the final 22, which is what he will need to do in season 2022 if Hawthorn are to be a chance of playing finals.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Sydney got crucified late in a few games by the umpires v Hawthorn back then, which was one of the main the catalysts of #freekickhawthorn . It’s so satisfying seeing the recent demise of Kennett’s mob (due to his and Clarko’s hubris) while the Young Bloods have bounced right back up and will soon be in contention again while Hawthorn will remain in the bottom 4 for years to come …
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Oh. You're imagining you played in it now, are you? That's actually pathetic.
Chris
Guest
Your version?, my version?umpire assisted or not? Tainted or untainted flag? All subjective perceptions of reality that we believe. My reality will involve enjoying a meal and a brew next year at the 2013 Premiership reunion and the year after for the 2014 flag and year after that for the 2015 flag. Hope your alternative reality is pleasant too.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You seem to want my affirmation of your version of that era. You won't get it. I watched it. We all watched it. That's when # freekickhawthorn became a thing. That is the result of reality. You, Matt Stevic and his mates might have a different reading...but don't expect the rest of us to believe it. It's a bit like Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin pretending to have won a Brownlow medal.
Chris
Guest
That era when they won a lot you claim was described as #blahblahblah and umpire assisted was also described as one the most dominant and impressive by any team in AFL history…. but that doesn’t suit your narrative does it? Your perception is your reality, too bad you didn’t kick straight with that free kick.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
When? Almost a decade ago was when they last won a lot and that era was described as #freekickhawthorn. Umpire-assisted history never counts. You've just given me another free kick. You seem obsessed by my opinion about your club but I never see you say anything positive about your hopes for them. Do you know the team or are you just a bandwagon person?
Chris
Guest
Must have been a good squad at some point then? That’s the most praise you’ve ever given Hawthorn ….. must have been good during their 3peat then or you still can’t bring yourself to say it publicly?
John Willmott
Guest
Bring back Thom! .... please
PeteB
Roar Rookie
The Hawks lost a couple of years there at one stage by failing to renew quick enough after the departures of Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis. Made poor choices recruiting some recycled players and held onto some struggling veterans a little too long. Will be interesting to see how they respond to their new coach.
Dean
Roar Rookie
I thought Dylan Moore had a breakout year last season. 27 goals and was a big improver across the board.
Jack Schubert
Guest
Dylan Moore may need a breakout year aswell. also Jack Gunston and James Sicily will be huge inclusions into the hawks side. to add to that there is also Will Day and Changkouth Jiath who missed a lot of 2022 which could be helpful in the backline and also pretty good in the wings.
Chris M
Guest
I was pondering exactly the same thing, which suggests that Hawthorn won't be contending for finals unless the whole can be coached to exceed the sum of the parts. Tom Mitchell is a former Brownlow Medallist who has no trouble finding the ball. I'm sure he'd still find a position in the top 22 of Sydney, the club he left behind for Hawthorn. However, some commentators seem to believe that his quantity of numbers doesn't always produce the desired quality of impact, or at least that was a criticism he has received in the past.
Brian
Guest
I'm expecting a bottom 4 finish which is fine as long as they play youth and show something. What was frustrating about Clarko was lack of development late on. The biggest issue is midfield. Need big seasons from Worpel, Howe, Nash & Phillips. If 2 of them step up consistently then you can be in the midfield battle and in the game. The quality at either was not too bad and now add Sicily + Gunston at either end. If you get smashed in the middle though your still going down.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Good article Doran, really looking forward to watching the young Hawks develop further this year. It will be exciting to watch Impey, Day, CJ creating havoc off the half back line who were missing a lot of the back end of the season. Says a lot about the young list that were able to compete and beat the better sides last year. It is was just disappointing that they didn’t have that fight against the lower sides like GC, Freo, Crows etc. I think the Hawks had the second or third best winning percentage against the top 8 sides. I think the one thing that pleased me more was the dramatic change in game style which you could see Mitchell’s influence all over it if you have seen Box Hill play. Win or lose and regardless where they finish l will be just happy to see that playstyle, effort and fight we saw in the last 5 rounds.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Without Clarko coaching, they would have finished 18th. Their injuries were far less significant than GC, GWS, Freo WC or Collingwood.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's an uninspiring 4 players. It has become such a weak squad so quickly.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
As much as it pains me to admit Sam Mitchell can clearly coach, he has the advantage of having actually filled senior coaching roles in the lower leagues. I do not understand why he pushed out Clarkson it makes little sense to me.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
This is going to be a very interesting year for Hawthorn fans. Injuries & frequent patchy form resulted in them finishing 14th last year. With 32yo Ben McEvoy nearing retirement, I believe the development of Ned Reeves needs to be high on the priority list for new coach Sam Mitchell.