‘One thing that I really admire’: How Hawks coach ‘bridged gap’ with hard heads and ‘unique’ kids

Exciting marquee off-season recruits may be driving the renewed and justified Hawthorn hype, but a steel bond between coaching staff and playing group, and the importance of embracing off-field individuality, are what will ensure the club is primed to make a run at a second consecutive finals berth.

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After eight wins in 2022 and seven in ‘23, the Hawks came from the clouds last season to win 11 of their final 13 games and stamp a September ticket for the first time since 2018. And it was almost a glorious run, falling just three points short of reaching the final four.

Now, the assumption is Hawthorn will be just as good, if not better, following a natural adjustment in expectation, plus the additions of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass to an already-stingy defence last October.

However, despite altered personnel, what won’t change between off-seasons is its togetherness, with 42-year-old senior coach Sam Mitchell at the forefront.

All-Australian forward Dylan Moore places an emphasis on Mitchell’s relatability and inherent welcoming nature as key traits justifying the players’ tremendous respect for their coach.

“I think he’s so relatable; he relates to a lot of us. He’s a young coach, he’s just come out of the game, and he gets it,” Moore told Foxfooty.com.au of the fourth-year mentor.

“That’s the one thing that I really admire. He gets us, and he gets the people that we are. We’re all very different and quite a unique bunch of guys and he loves that, and he makes us feel really welcomed in the footy club.”

Moore says the ability to connect with a diverse squad, both with regards to age and background, truly makes Mitchell a players’ coach.

“(It’s) because he’s so relatable. He always has people over for dinner, always putting on a barbeque for people, he makes us feel so welcome,” Moore continued.

“So, from there, I just want to play for him. That’s why, every week, we go out there and we try so hard; it’s because we really want to play for our coach.

“That’s because he’s got to know us as people, and he’s just been so instrumental in that part of our game.”

At the start of last season, 34 of Hawthorn’s AFL-listed players were aged between 18-25, while just nine — Blake Hardwick (26 years old), Mabior Chol (26), Karl Amon (28), James Sicily (28), Jarman Impey (28), Chad Wingard (30), Sam Frost (30), Jack Gunston (32) and Luke Breust (33) — were in the 26-34 age bracket.

Thus, ‘bridging the gap’ between the old and young players on the list, and ensuring all are on the same page philosophically, is key, but by no means an easy feat to achieve.

Moore believes Mitchell’s recent exit from the game has helped in this space, adding the message to senior-most players has been clear.

“He’s played with a lot of the guys that are still on the list; Breust, Gunston, they’re premiership teammates,” Moore said.

“And I think what he’s been able to do is really bridge the gap between the oldest player and the youngest player and make everyone feel like they can speak up in the locker room (and) in the theatre.

“And I think he’s leant on the older guys a lot. (The message is) ‘you’re going to have to get around the younger guys, you’re going to have to make them feel welcome, because that’s the next wave, that’s where our (next) premiership success is coming from’.

“I don’t know precisely what he’s done with those older guys, but I feel like everyone that’s above the age of 28 has really leant into Sam’s vision and helped all the younger boys come through.”

Encouraging off-field individuality has also lent itself to on-field success for the brown and gold.

One of the club’s biggest characters, Jack Ginnivan has spoken previously of feeling free to be himself at Hawthorn, and that liberty remains a driver within the goalsneak and others alike.

“Ever since I’ve come to the club, it’s been a real drive to embrace that (individuality), and the ride we went on last year was all about embracing that,” Ginnivan told Foxfooty.com.au.

“I have a really strong connection with my line coach, Adrian Hickmott, who is really into being yourself and being a unique individual.

“However you are and whatever makes you tick to play your best footy is how we go about it, so it’s been great to be able to be myself, to be honest.”

A 2023 Collingwood premiership player, Ginnivan played 23 games in his maiden Hawthorn season, averaging a career-best 16.5 disposals and 3.2 inside-50s playing higher up the ground.

The 22-year-old might sometimes teeter on the edge with his flavour, but when the entire playing group — including forward-line companion Nick Watson, whose “antics” Ginnivan says are similar to his own — are encouraged to openly express their eccentricities, it’s easy to feel welcome at Waverley.

“It’s good to have a guy like that (Watson) come into the club and make me feel more comfortable in my skin, because I have my best mate doing the same thing,” Ginnivan said.

“Especially when it’s on the biggest stage as well. And that’s how you want to feel, out on the MCG.”