Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has hinted a contract extension is not far away from being announced.
Contracted until the end of next year, there has been speculation the Hawks are close to locking him on a three-year deal off the back of a preliminary final run last year and with the club again in the premiership frame in 2026.
"I love Hawthorn, I'm sure there will be something coming out about it soon enough," Mitchell said.
"I'll let that play out. Someone will report on that when that's all finalised."
Mitchell took over as coach in 2022 after a season at the helm of VFL affiliate Box Hill.
"I think seeing the joy in young people when they improve," Mitchell said when asked his favourite thing about coaching Hawthorn.
"It's not just the players, sometimes the staff. Aidan Schubert will make his debut and you see his family and how much they've put into him and we've only had him for nine months - how many hours by how many people have been put in to give him that opportunity.
"When I see those staff have that smile, you have that feeling you've helped that along, they're the parts of coaching that make us do it."
Mitchell also addressed the recent report that the Hawks are preparing for Wharfie Time ahead of a potential meeting with Fremantle in September.
The Hawks conceded the last five goals of the Round 9 clash at Optus Stadium to lose by 15 points after leading with four minutes remaining before the crowd noise of Wharfie Time lifted the Dockers over the line.
"There's been a lot of talk about it in the change rooms. For a start, I wouldn't say we have prepared specifically for Wharfie time," Mitchell said.
"What we did do is after that game our psychologist does a really good job of preparing us on mental skills of the game and I think in every part of the game, whether it's momentum challenges or crowd challenges, injury challenges, there are mental strains in any competitive sport and being able to handle those is something you want to prepare for.
"After the Fremantle game, we had a chat about 'how did it make you feel, what did it make you do, how did it make you react' and if that's called working on it and preparing for it, we did that.
"We haven't used it since two days after the Fremantle game. We would like to think we prepare our players for the mental rigours of the game...we haven't played their song on the field or anything like that, it was just a discussion with our psychologist to make sure we're ready for whatever rigours await."
"If we play them, I'm sure we'll prepare for it, but we aren't playing them at the moment."
The coach indicated the Hawks are closing in on a best 23 for finals, with the ruck and wing dynamic the last pieces of the puzzle to sort.
"Most coaches know the best 18-20 and then how you work out the last parts is a little bit to do with who you're playing particularly around the ruck, the second ruck we used for a lot of the season, we haven't had that available, we're not sure exactly what we're going to do in that space, the eight defenders we're still working through, so I wouldn't say we've nailed down a best 23," Mitchell said.
Noah Mraz's forced exclusion with a kidney laceration could provide the opportunity for the Hawks to play a second pure winger alongside Massimo D'Ambrosio, having used skipper James Sicily, among other defenders, through the second wing spot in recent weeks to enable eight defenders to play.
When asked specifically about whether a winger or defender would replace Mraz, he said: "We're having that exact conversation, you'll find out at 6.20pm."
The coach also said Ned Reeves would likely be available for selection next week, having not played the last four games due to a knee injury, but indicated he was not an automatic inclusion: "We expect him to be available for next week. The VFL have a bye so we have a bit of decision-making to go."
Mitchell also stressed Bailey MacDonald was a required player, having played the last nine games, after being referenced in trade discussions in recent days.
