As Hawthorn braces for a formidable challenge over the next month, coach Sam Mitchell described the Hawks as a “good side” still in the process of trying to become a competition heavyweight once again after a loss to the Suns on Thursday.
The Hawks could slip from the top four by Saturday night should Adelaide defeat Collingwood at the MCG after falling short by eight points in an entertaining encounter against the Gold Coast in Darwin.
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The Hawks were bullied in the midfield in the first half by the Suns but rallied from a 32-point deficit midway through the second term to take a three-point lead into the final break, only to be overrun by the Gold Coast in a high-scoring clash in the Northern Territory.
It was the first leg of a testing run that continues with a clash against reigning premiers Brisbane at the MCG next Saturday, with Collingwood at the same ground to follow. Hawthorn then plays the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium and Adelaide in Launceston.
“I think we’re probably about where we deserve to be. The standard that we hold ourselves to is getting higher and higher and higher, and that is a great challenge,” Mitchell said.
“This time last year, we were in a position where it was easy to improve because we were coming from a goal base. Now we’re a good side but we’re not a great site, and that’s the great challenge for us now.
“The standards that we hold ourselves to and what we accept of each other just needs to continue to make those gains and if we continue to make those gains, we can compete with the really good sides when it really matters.
“Today was an opportunity (but) we weren’t quite good enough. But I still look at the evidence that we’ve made progress and we’re continuing to make progress and when we play those teams — our next game is against Brisbane, so we get another chance — and we’ll see how far we’ve come and if we can, if we can do it against them.”
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That assessment, Hawthorn legend and former club director Jason Dunstall said, was pragmatic.
“He knows they have made ground from last year, where he said there was no pressure on them and they came from nowhere, but they have got themselves to a position where they are not a bad side, but he knows they have a long way to go,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
Mitchell said the nature of the performance, with Hawthorn well-beaten early before launching a significant challenge against a rival unbeaten in eight matches in Darwin, meant that he was “a bit torn” in terms of assessing the match.
“There’s a part of me that’s pleased and proud of it, but there’s also a part of me that we’re not where we want to go just yet,” he said.
“I think we’ve shown we’re making progress in that direction, but we’ve got work to do to beat the best sides and the Suns here, they’re in that category.”
While players including key defender Tom Barrass, who came from the field midway through the match with blood gushing from a cut above his eye, endured some cuts and bruises, Mitchell said the Hawks were largely intact.
The Hawks rested No.1 ruckman Lloyd Meek and veteran forward Jack Gunston, while Luke Breust missed through a sore back and Jarmen Impey was absent due to parental leave, which means they will be strengthened for the clash with the reigning premiers.
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