Leigh Matthews questions if James Sicily’s uncertain role is impacting football ‘psyche’

AFL Hall of Fame legend Leigh Matthews has questioned how James Sicily’s ever-changing role is impacting his football “psyche,” with the Hawks skipper down on his best form so far in 2025.

Sicily has been used as a swingman throughout this season with the likes of Mitch Lewis and Calsher Dear sidelined and recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle beefing up Hawthorn’s defence.

It included Sicily, with around two minutes left in the Hawks’ narrow Easter Monday loss to Geelong, launching a long set shot out on the full in a crucial chance that went begging when he was swung forward.

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Speaking on Fox Footy’s On the Couch, Matthews was concerned by how the All-Australian backman’s fluid role could be affecting his game.

“He’s a gun player. When he plays defence he’s been a gun player and when he’s gone forward he’s been able to mark the ball. He’s been terrific, but he’s neither of those things at the moment,” the three-time premiership coach said.

“I wonder in his own psyche (what it does) when he’s not sure if he’s going to be playing defence or forward. I would’ve thought he’s in a down patch of his own form – both in defence and the forward line.

“It was interesting that when the match was in the balance (Patrick) Dangerfield played the role he’s going to play – forward half.

“I just wonder how it’s affecting (Sicily’s) psyche and his form.”

Matthews ultimately believes Hawks coach Sam Mitchell should settle Sicily back in defence so he doesn’t have the constant uncertainty in game of what his role is going to be.

Looking at it from a bigger picture perspective, triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown highlighted how Sicily was effectively needing to sacrifice parts of his game due to Hawthorn’s lack of available key forwards.

It’s forced the likes of Jack Gunston and Mabior Chol, who kicked three goals apiece against Geelong, to play taller than they usually would.

“Is this the long-term problem for Sam Mitchell? We know that’s the challenge, the key forwards,” Brown said.

“Gunston is doing a mighty job for an older key forward, but he’s more a hybrid. Obviously Lewis and Dear aren’t there, so (a lot rests on) Mabior Chol.

“Is this the concern for Mitchell that keeps popping up every game? Therefore, Sicily is the one who almost has to pay the price.”

Sam Mitchell earlier on AFL 360 downplayed any concerns with Sicily’s form.

“The thing is when you’re James Sicily that comes with enormous responsibility and he’s won us quite a few games,” the Hawks coach said.

“In the last couple of years, without him we don’t win.

“Today he did the thing you want your captain to do. He put himself in positions to help us win the game.

“He didn’t take his chances tonight, but overall, you would have to say ‘Sic’ has won us more games he’s lost us.”

While Sicily missed an opportunity to get Hawthorn back in Easter Monday’s game in the late stages, he wasn’t the only Hawk to misfire in front of goal amid an 11.13 return.

Hawthorn also committed several costly turnovers in its defensive half that led to Geelong goals — including Shaun Mannagh’s match winner — in a decisive part of an epic game played under finals-like pressure between two quality sides.

And so Mitchell said he “rationally” knew his team would “a lot of games playing like that,” even if his “overwhelming feeling was disappointment and frustration”.

“(The wayward kicking) was right from the very start. When you play professional sport your whole game style is built on predicting what is going to happen in front of you,” Mitchell continued.

“We had some turnovers in front of goal that were diabolic. At the other end we turned the ball over 10 times in our own defensive 50. That last one they made us pay and won them the game. But that was an issue all night.

“Of all the ways you can lose, skill level is the better end of the spectrum. We had really good players who are good kicks missing kicks. They’re going to be better kicks again. They don’t lose the talent and skills they have.

“We just need to rebuild the confidence to make sure next week we continue to go for the kicks that are there. We’ll know they’ll regress to the mean and hit most of those.”

Hawthorn will look to snap its two-game losing streak when it hosts the winless Eagles at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.