Hawthorn assistant coach Adrian Hickmott is continuing his rise toward a top AFL coaching job that could place him among the next best contenders.
In the unrivalled insight into their 2025 pre-season in Channel 7'sย documentary "Full Sweat", that gives fans and onlookers the behind-the-scenes, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell reveals how valuable Hickmott is to the club, who breaks the ceiling on innovative ways to get the most out of the players.
The former Geelong and Carlton player has spent most of his days post his career at Essendon as a development coach, before taking on multiple roles at West Coast in the backline and midfield for over a decade.
Ahead of the 2022 season, Hawthorn lured the Victorian back to his home state, and has been a breath of fresh air.
Tasked with the once difficult duty of coordinating a potent forward line, Mitchell describes Hickmott's assignment as a "big melting point of beauty or disaster" as a new-look group took centre stage.
The 2024 campaign unveiled the likes of Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan, Calsher Dear and Mabior Chol to the mix, which naturally could take a long time to adjust.
"The thing about Hick is he'll challenge or do things that others haven't done with a complete lack of self consciousness," Mitchell said on the Channel 7 documentaryย Full Sweat
"I think the players appreciate that, feel that, see it. There's a whole range of players who he oversees, and he coaches them differently.
"18 months ago, we were really struggling to score. We had good offensive system, but we couldn't find ways to put the score on the board.
"If you look tired, we'll play with 16. Get off."
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"We had a lot of new players coming in, but we had no idea how this group will mix together. It will be a big melting pot of beauty or diaster, and Hick, you're the guy.
"I think when you look at that group and the way they bond, the way they get together, there's a fair bit of Hick about them."
A part of the unique tactics is asking the forward group, who are renowned for biting their fingernails, is too avoid doing so.
The documentary also reveals Hickmott teaching the injured Dear how to play guitar, appealing to both the athlete and the person.
Amid the search for an Eagles senior coach in 2024 - which was filled by Andrew McQualter - Mitchell endorsed Hickmott, saying it'd be wise for the Western Australian club to be "picking up the phone".
"Yeah, I chat with all of our coaches about their future plans, their aspirations and where they'd like to be," Mitchell said onย SEN in July.
"It's really an interesting position as the head coach because there's a part of me that would absolutely love โHick' to get an opportunity to be a head coach because I think he would be fantastic at it.
"But there's a part of me that would be heartbroken because I'd lose him from my own staff.
"But I think if I was West Coast, I'd certainly be picking up the phone to both David Hale and Adrian Hickmott.
"I think they're both potential head coaches, but they would very much be missed from us if they were to get that job.
"But there's no doubt they'd be successful in that role."
Albeit no senior coaching vacancies, a close watch will be on Luke Beveridge's future at the Western Bulldogs as he enters the last year of his contract.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir's contract was altered to an "ongoing" status, but will be under immense pressure if the club doesn't reach the finals.
The Hawks kick off their 2025 season with a mouth-watering contest against Sydney at the SCG.
