‘Big scenes’: Hawks coaches’ epic reaction ‘said plenty’ in perfect start to 2025

Sam Mitchell and the other Hawthorn coaches’ reactions in the box told the story after the club’s season-opening win over Sydney.

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The Hawks kicked off their 2025 campaign in style with a 20-point victory over last year’s grand finalists in rainy conditions at the SCG.

Hawthorn led for the majority of the first half, before Sydney came charging back with five goals to two in the third term to get within five points at the last change as the home side took momentum.

But Mitchell’s troops held their nerve, kicking three goals to none in a decisive fourth quarter to walk away with the four points in one of the toughest road trips in footy.

It was evident how significant the win was to Mitchell and his peers in the immediate aftermath, warmly embracing with high fives and big smiles all round in joyous scenes from the Hawks coaches box.

“Have a look at that in the coaches box, that tension and unknown of pre-season. They’re letting all that out,” Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson observed.

Demons legend Garry Lyon described it as “big scenes” that “said plenty” about what it meant to the Hawks.

“You guys (fellow commentators) picked up Sam Mitchell did a pretty stern pre-game interview with us, which hasn’t been the Sam Mitchell way in recent times. That’s absolutely fine, gives you an indication of what’s at stake,” Lyon said on Fox Footy.

“Then you see that outpouring of emotion, that’s genuine happiness there.”

It was some statement from Hawthorn, who went into 2025 with increased expectations after recovering from a 0-5 start last season to charge into finals in a shock rise behind an exhilarating brand of football.

Still, it made the Hawks something of an enigma this year, with fears they might struggle to back up that incredible run, despite bolstering their defence with recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle.

Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said his former club passed its first test with flying colours.

“It was a Round 1 mission to be ticked off, they came here to get the four points and they’re already four points better than last year after the first five games – so it’s a very different start,” he said.

“The question mark over their heads was, would they be able to back up what they did last year? The most pleasing thing about the win … it wasn’t the prettiest of wins in the end.

“The weather changed, Sydney came at them, and they gritted it out.”

Mitchell post-match said the way his side handled the intense pressure of Friday night’s game was “a little bit of validation” as it looks to improve from its 2024 semi-final run.

“We’ve tried to put last year behind us. Everyone wants to talk about the past all the time. We know we need to get better and improve,” the fourth-year coach said.

“I guess the thing we took out from last season is it showed us some evidence that when we do work hard and are working towards something, that helps us make improvements to our game.

“But we also know we have to make improvements to our game to get where we want to go, we’re going to have to be better than we were – and better than we are right now.”