Hawthorn assistant Robert Harvey has provided an early assessment of new Hawks senior coach Sam Mitchell.
Both Mitchell and Harvey arrived at Bunjil Bagora following Alastair Clarkson's exit from the club, with Adrian Hickmott and David Hale also linking up with the Hawks for 2022.
Speaking onย RSN Breakfast, Harvey, a former Collingwood assistant, detailed how Mitchell has approached the role so far.
"I hadn't [previously] crossed paths with Sam much at all, he's assembling his own coaching group, like it's a pretty new coaching group, so the way he's handled that's been really good," he said on Tuesday morning.
"He's only a young coach, he's only 38. He will get better as he goes, but the way he's attacked it, the way he's brought a fresh energy ... it's been pretty impressive.
Harvey, who became the Magpies' interim coach last year when Nathan Buckley resigned mid-season, highlighted Mitchell's eagerness to make in-game adjustments when things weren't going to plan.
"He's not going to let the game go and just play a certain way, and I think that's a good sign, the players would appreciate that and know that we're going to try stuff if it's not going well.
"He's very conversational in the box, so it's solution-based, so far so good ... he's not a lunatic yet, put it that way."
Despite the Hawks falling a point short of the Blues on Sunday afternoon, Harvey commended his club's resilience after surging back from seven goals down.
"After quarter-time it was pleasing, the players' resolve, and I think that's been a standout [through] all three games so far," Harvey stated.
"We're still trying to establish a long-term style of game and we're still [a bit] off that.
"The way the players responded [to Carlton's dominant start] I thought was really good."
The 50-year-old Harvey also spoke on his transition from Olympic Park to Waverley, conveying his enjoyment at converting to a new coaching staff at Hawthorn.
"I'm just enjoying the change of scenery, to be honest. I've been at Collingwood a long time ... it was time for a change there.
"I'm pretty relaxed about it and just really enjoying it and obviously trying to help a new coach as well as much as I can.
"We're a new coaching group; the focus has been around gelling as a coaching group and that's coming together nicely."
Harvey and the Hawks will be searching for their third win of the season this weekend when they battle the rising Saints at the MCG.
