Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell addressed his playing group with the requisite intensity at the conclusion of the third quarter, in Saturday night's victory over the previously undefeated Western Bulldogs.
The Hawks had conceded the final three goals of the term to give the Dogs a sniff in a game they should have been well and truly out of at that point, at which point the former captain turned coach let his side know just what he thought of the way they allowed a depleted Bulldogs side back into the contest.
Key forward Mitch Lewis offered insight into the contents of the spray, post-match.
“That was pathetic… that last five minutes,” Mitchell declared, according to his spearhead. “If you want to keep playing like that, we're going to lose this game. I don't care if you're tired – bring energy back into this game.”
The Hawthorn coach was quizzed on the tactic in the immediate aftermath of the contest, and appeared less than remorseful, given that it clearly had the desired effect.
"We were nowhere near our best and we looked like we were inviting them back into the contest, so at three-quarter time we addressed that – I addressed it reasonably strongly," Mitchell said.
The only potential regret the coach may have is that young leader Jai Newcombe, in his first season co-captaining the side, would have liked to perform those duties.
"I think Jai Newcombe was about to do the same thing and I didn't realise it at the time, and I think I cut his lunch.
"He didn't mention it to me until after the game and he was a bit disappointed. I'm not sure how many times he's given a big spray but he was ready so maybe I should have let him do it."
Mitchell was also honest in his assessment of the victory, conceding that wayward kicking from the opposition may have flattered his side in the end.
"I think we got a little bit lucky with some of their scoring shots," he said.
The Hawks will be sweating on the fitness of cult hero key forward Mabior Chol, after the popular figure left the contest with what appeared to be a left hamstring strain.
Hawthorn boast depth at the position, but Chol has provided an effective foil for the evergreen Jack Gunston this year, and would be quite the omission in the likely event that a stint on the pine befalls him.
