Mitchell not concerned with form of criticised Hawks captain

Hawthorn head into this Sunday's clash against the Tigers knowing that they will need to bring their best to defeat a plucky Tigers outfit who are intent on ruining Hawthorn's centenary celebration.

The Hawks, who sit at 5-2 after last week's 50-point victory over the Eagles, know that the young Tigers will be out to cause another shock, after knocking off a highly touted Carlton and Gold Coast in the first seven rounds.

"They're an exciting team and have been really quite consistent through their games", said head coach Sam Mitchell before the Hawks' main training session at Bunjil Bagora on Friday.

"They had a little bit of a blowout in the game against Freo, but in every other game they've been it sort of right to the end.

"They stay hungry, they keep putting the pressure on and there's a level of excitement about the way the Tigers play that puts bums on seats.

"That suits us, as that's the way we like to play as well. A little bit of meet fire with fire."

The Hawks will be forced to make two changes to their side from last weekend, with important defenders Karl Amon and Jack Scrimshaw both entering concussion protocols and are unavailable for this weekend's clash.

Mitchell is aware that the team will need to cover the loss of both important members, but is confident the club has the personnel to step up and play their role this weekend.

From the squad announced on Thursday night, Jai Serong, Changkuoth Jiath and Finn Maginness are firmly in contention for the clash, while Luke Breust and Max Ramsden trained early on Friday morning with the Hawks' VFL affiliate side Box Hill.

"It's a bit of a challenge for us, losing two out of your back six is a challenge," he said.

"It gives opportunity and we're excited about the future of this club and the playing list at Box Hill are going really well at the moment.

"They're undefeated and lots of players playing at Box Hill are more than capable at AFL level and some of those will get an opportunity over the next period and they'll start on Sunday."

Skipper James Sicily has at times struggled throughout the beginning of the 2025 season, as the Hawks' defensive unit looks to adapt to structural changes after the acquisitions of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle at the end of last year.

Mitchell, however, isn't concerned about the form of Sicily, who was an All-Australian selection two years ago.

"For the majority of the year he has been in, I would say, All-Australian form," his coach said.

"He's still finding it, he is still defending well and he's not having scores kicked on him. He just hasn't kicked the ball very well, but he's still a good kick.

"So I'm far from concerned. He's out here working on his craft, he hasn't lost kicking talent, so I'm not concerned."

Impressive young Hawks defender Josh Weddle brings up his 50th game in succession for the club, having not missed a match since his debut against the Bulldogs in Round 7, 2023.

"We were debating it, if it was consecutive, but it is consecutive and it's very impressive," Mitchell said of the young flanker.

"When we got Weddle to the club, you had this great feeling that once he worked out a few things, he was going to be an impressive player for us over the journey.

"His flexibility we have started to see, but I think it is going to continue to grow.

Triple Premiership hero Jack Gunston, who has been a standout for the Hawks forward line this year, approaches this weekend's clash two goals short of the 500 goal mark, which would make him the eighth Hawk in history to achieve this feat.

Mitchell heaped praise on Gunston's role at the club, both on field and off field for the Hawks' improved work inside the forward 50, including marks inside 50, where the Hawks currently sit on top of the ladder for that statistic, averaging 15.4 a game.

"The thing with Jack, is that he is doing a great job on the field at the moment and everyone is rightly talking about how important he is on the field," Mitchell said.

"But I still maintain, and have since the day he came back from Brisbane, is that his greatest influence is what he does off the field and the amount of coaching he has done with our forward group.

"We've been quite good at getting our marks inside 50 up this year, and Adrian Hickmott has done a fantastic job, but I don't think he's able to do his job anywhere near as well if he doesn't have a Luke Breust or a Jack Gunston.

"I know it was quite a big deal for Luke Breust when he kicked his 500th, so I imagine it will be pretty similar for Jack if he can get there at some stage."

After last week's victory over the Eagles, there was some discussion about Tom Barrass spending time forward in the last quarter, with Mitchell speaking on the Hawks often moving players throughout a game.

"We sort of felt like the game was in reasonably strong hands," he said.

"We in general, when we've got the game either controlled, or the opposite, we look to make a bit of a change in the game quite often.

"We have seen James Sicily and Blake Hardwick swap, and we have moved Josh Weddle forward at different stages.

"It's something that we would like to explore with other players as well."

The Hawks' clash on Sunday marks their 100th year in the competition, and Mitchell said this week has been an opportunity to reflect upon the history of the club.

"It's always funny when you play or coach in this game, it is very rare that you get a moment to reflect. You're always thinking ahead and thinking of what's the next thing," he said.

"But this week, having a little bit of a chance to look back over the hundred of years of the club.

"A couple of days ago, we had all the cups sitting out here and all the people that had been part of them, and it was quite daunting, just the amount of goals, premierships, best and fairest's and all these players that had won.

"The AFL has given us a really good forum of playing against Richmond, who we played our first ever game against in 1925.

"I think it is a pretty special afternoon, and hopefully the brown and gold will turn out, as I am sure they will, for what will be a pretty good show."

The club's 100-year celebration ceremony will take place at 2:30pm, before the Hawks head out onto the MCG, looking to solidify their place in the top four with a win against the Tigers.