Smarting from a tough loss last week, and with a massive three weeks left for the regular season, Sam Mitchell understands that it is all to play for for the seventh-placed Hawks, who are desperate to secure a spot in this year's finals series.
After last week's heartbreaking loss to Adelaide, Hawthorn heads into Thursday night's game against Collingwood knowing they will need to bring their best to defeat a Collingwood side that, despite losing three of their last four, has been performing quite well.
The Hawks, who have won three of their last five, know that they have the tools at their disposal to cause issues for Collingwood in the blockbuster clash, but will need to overcome some problems that have caused them to struggle to defeat fellow premiership fancies, including Adelaide and Fremantle, in the past month.
Hawthorn led against Adelaide away from home last Friday night, before struggling in pressure moments that saw the Crows kick accurately, while the Hawks struggled to make the most of their chances.
“We reflected on how we missed some opportunities late in the game," said Mitchell.
“How did we let them get back into the game in the first part of the game?
"Third interstate game that we have been in front at three-quarter time and then find a way to lose, so a bit of work to do. But we also made more progress than a couple of weeks before against Freo.
"We want to put ourselves into a position where we play big games against big clubs, and we play in a style that can compete and win those games. Can we compete in those games? Absolutely.
"Everyone who watched that game against Adelaide last week would have said that's two good teams going at it. They were just a little bit cleaner and a little bit sharper when it mattered, and they get the points."
Mitchell is aware that the pressure will be on in Thursday night's clash, with both Hawthorn and Collingwood wanting to arrest momentum ahead of September, with the Hawks needing to handle the pressure and make some small changes if they are to continue to push for a second consecutive finals berth.
"A mixture of some technical sort of tactical adjustments, as well as a mentality shift, of making sure we continue to operate at our highest functioning level in key pressure moments," said Mitchell.
"We don't throw the baby out with the bath water and say we're not good enough.
"We need to refine a couple of things from our game and handle those (pressure) moments."
When pressed on the make-up of the team, in particular the four-tall set-up that the Hawks rolled out last week, Mitchell was coy on team selection.
"We will continue to go with the team that we think will cause the most trouble for the Pies."
During the Captain's Run at Waverley Park, all four of Calsher Dear, Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston were present in the 26-man Hawthorn squad, leaving the door ajar for Mitchell to employ the same structure and tactic that he used in last week's 14-point defeat.
Harry Morrison left the track early during the Hawks' main training session on Wednesday and was not part of the 26-man squad during the Captain's Run, while experienced midfielder James Worpel was present, despite missing the main session.
Worpel's availability for the clash will no doubt be important for the Hawks, who look to cover the loss of star midfielder Will Day, who experienced another navicular injury that will see him sidelined for the rest of the 2025 season.
For Day, who has now had three issues with his navicular in the past 18 months, Mitchell will still look to have him around the group, in a similar role that he had earlier in the season, linking up between the coaches and the players while on the boundary line for the Hawks.
"Will Day will be on the bench for us tomorrow night," Mitchell revealed.
"He's in a pretty good headspace. Some of the scans and stuff look pretty good. He's not back to square one; he is still a fair way through the process of getting back. He won't be able to help us out on the field, but he is in a pretty good headspace considering."
With the Hawks expected to make at least two changes to the side that pushed the Crows last round, there are a few players at Hawthorn's VFL affiliate, Box Hill, who have been knocking down the door for an opportunity, including Cam Mackenzie, Sam Butler, Changkuoth Jiath and Jai Serong part of the Hawks Captain's Run today.
"Box Hill, they were excellent last week," Mitchell added.
"Cam's last two games at Box Hill have been really solid. There are a lot of guys at Box Hill who are standing at the door waiting for a little crack to open.
"We'll see what we do with the team this afternoon."
The teams for the Hawthorn-Collingwood clash will be released at 6:20pm on Wednesday evening, before the Hawks and Pies take to the MCG on Thursday evening in a blockbuster game that will have massive ramifications on both teams' finals aspirations in 2025.
