Young Hawks finally flying forward

Battling immense scepticism and incredulity from critics heading into the 2022 season, new coach Sam Mitchell and his young Hawthorn side have so far defied the odds, finding themselves in the top eight after five rounds.

While the words ‘scrappy’ and ‘plucky’ have been thrown around when describing Hawthorn’s style in early rounds, there are certainly some underlying traits about Mitchell’s game plan that have Hawks fans excited for the future.

The fast-flowing, counter-attacking brand of football that Mitchell implemented in his Box Hill side last year has been used to tremendous effect this year at the elite level, with the 2012 Brownlow Medallist hitting the ground running as an AFL senior coach.

Hawks fans can perhaps also credit Mitchell for being able to get the best out of several younger players in a way that legendary coach Alastair Clarkson struggled to. After being lost in the wilderness during the pandemic-affected years, Mitch Lewis is finally showing his true capabilities as a key forward, currently sitting one goal behind the leaders in the Coleman Medal race and making his presence known up forward with his contested marking ability.

Dylan Moore has started the season like a house on fire, with the small forward’s tenacity and goal prowess giving the Hawks’ forward line a real spark, in conjunction with ever-classy premiership stars Luke Breust and Jack Gunston.

Ned Reeves has slotted seamlessly into the midfield setup this season, with the 208-cm ruckman’s tap work and aerial presence an underrated component of Hawthorn’s early season form.

I shouldn’t need to remind you that Changkuoth ‘CJ’ Jiath already looks like a star in the making (but I will anyway), while Gippsland product Jai Newcombe showed he well and truly belongs at AFL level with a best-on-ground performance against arch-rivals Geelong on Easter Monday, and it is remarkable to think he wasn’t even on a VFL list at the start of 2021.

(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Mitchell has also shown faith in draftees Connor MacDonald and Josh Ward, with both playing all five games, and the latter being thrown in the deep end in the remarkable win against the Cats, attending 21 of the 29 centre bounces, and standing tall with 18 touches.

The response to the extremely disappointing defeat against St Kilda in Round 4 is exactly what Hawks fans would have been looking for, yet on a deeper level, it highlights that Mitchell is already stamping his authority on this group, and the results have shown.

Aside from the St Kilda loss, the Hawks have so far brushed aside North Melbourne, pummelled Port Adelaide on their home deck and put in a massive effort in the second half in Round 3, only to fall one point short of the up-and-coming Blues.

What is even more exciting is that the side isn’t even at full strength; skipper Ben McEvoy is expected to be out for another two months with a neck injury, the mercurial Chad Wingard has been missing for most of the season, talented youngster Will Day’s start to the season has been disrupted by injury, while Jarman Impey has only just returned to the fold after a long injury layoff.

Hawks fans will also hope that Reeves is back as quickly as possible, with the big man being cleared of serious damage after dislocating his shoulder late in the opening term against the Cats, with recruit Max Lynch set to shoulder the majority of the ruck load in the meantime.

Getting under-fire midfielders James Worpel and Jaeger O’Meara back to their best will also be at the front of Mitchell’s mind, as both will be crucial to his side moving forward.

After treading water for a few years under Clarkson, the Hawks are finally showing that they have a clear direction with Mitchell at the helm, who so far has demonstrated why they hastily appointed him as Clarkson’s successor with rival clubs circling the four-time premiership player last season.

With a young group, the next couple of seasons are likely to be a bit of a rollercoaster for Hawthorn fans, however, the promise this side is showing certainly gives cause for optimism in years to come.