Hawthorn are looking to turn around a two-game losing streak when they take on the Eagles at Marvel Stadium on Sunday in a game that Sam Mitchell knows will not be an easy one.
The Hawks, who are currently sitting on four wins to start the 2025 season, are aware that they will need to take the learnings from their seven point defeat to the Cats if they are to get the four points against the Eagles in the ANZAC Round encounter that will see Tom Barrass face his former team for the first time since he was traded.
The Hawks have struggled to get their game going after their early season bye, suffering consecutive losses to Port Adelaide in Gather Round and Geelong on Easter Monday.
The ball use at times over the past fortnight has been below expectations, resulting in uncharacteristic turnovers that allowed the opposition to score.
"We always try to use the ball the best way we can. It looked like we had more opportunities last week but we just couldn't capitalise on them," Mitchell said on Friday.
"Every team in the competition is working on their skill level, and we learnt first-hand that when it is not good enough it will cost you games of footy.
"That's one of the things that we have been working on this week."
The Hawks, who last week recorded a tackle success rate of 74%, know that defensively they need to sharpen up around stoppages inside their defensive 50 to be able to stop opposition scores.
"The stoppages in particular, we are 18th by quite a long way. Scores conceded by defensive 50 stoppages, so there's a bit of work that has gone into that," Mitchell added.
"We've changed a couple of things over the last couple of weeks really and there is a bit of a lag effect when you make structural change before you get better at those things.
"Hopefully they'll right the ship over the next week or two."
New recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle have both received criticism during the week for their start to their careers in the brown and gold, as the Hawks struggle to work out their best mix of players in the backline.
Mitchell said he is aware that it will take time for the combinations to gel, however has been impressed by the start to the season for both players since arriving at Bunjil Bagora.
"I'm really pleased with what they've done," he said.
"Josh Battle has had a role almost every game and hasn't been beaten too often. Jeremy Cameron, although he kicked a couple of goals on the week, I thought he did a good job overall.
"'TB', we haven't been gotten hold of by any talls at this stage, so we're pretty happy with the back mix."
Since their last win in Round 3 against the Giants in Launceston that had the Hawks sitting pretty at the top of the ladder, they have lost influential midfield star Will Day to a stress fracture in his foot that required surgery, along with big bodied midfielder Conor Nash, who was suspended for four matches this week by the AFL Tribunal after a nasty incident in the Easter Monday clash against the Cats.
The loss of the important duo means that Mitchell is aware that others are going to have to step up and fill the void that has been left in the midfield.
"We've got some guys who will step up. Worps has come back into the side," Mitchell said.
"Mackenzie and Ward are really improving their games and getting more midfield time.
Added to the midfield mix against the Eagles is Henry Hustwaite, who will make his season debut after a string of impressive performances in the VFL, where he has averaged close to 35 touches per game, as well as almost 12 clearances from his three performances for Box Hill.
"Henry Hustwaite will play this week. I am really pleased he will get his opportunity," his coach confirmed.
"He's really deserved it and I have wanted to get him in and not been able to do it.
"We're pretty rapt that he will get his first opportunity of the season."
The Hawks were wasteful in front of goals on Easter Monday, failing to convert pivotal chances that would have helped them put more pressure on the Cats.
"We're still fifth or sixth for goalkicking accuracy, so that's something that we work on every week," Mitchell said.
"We've got a pretty diligent routine and system that we use and very well documented and lots of data behind it about the shots we have, where we have the shots from and how much fatigue where under when we have them.
"I think we are doing everything we can to make sure that we are stronger in front of the sticks."
Jack Ginnivan is in the mix to return to the Hawks squad after being omitted from the Easter Monday game.
Ginnivan starred at Box Hill in their thumping win, gathering 22 disposals, kicking four goals and having a hand in a few more scoring plays for the team.
"I was rapt with his performance," Mitchell said. "You guys would see the goals, but he handed off a couple of goals as well.
"I thought his attitude and his work rate was exactly what we wanted to see from him. I was really pleased that he had such a great attitude going back."
The Hawks will look to arrest momentum after losses over the past fortnight and get back in the winners list against the Eagles in Sunday afternoon's clash that rounds out the weekend's games.
