Recently retired premiership Eagle Will Schofield has stated that if it weren't for incoming Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, West Coast wouldn't have claimed the club's fourth flag in 2018.
Speaking withย Fox Footyย on Wednesday, Schofield, 32, claimed that Mitchell's influence after shifting to the coaches box at the end of the 2017 was an instrumental factor in the Eagles' September success.
โPut it this way, we wouldnโt have won in 2018 without Sam Mitchell as an assistant coach,โ the bearded ex-Eagle said.
Mitchell was this week confirmed as Alastair Clarkson's at Hawthorn and will take the reigns from his former mentor at the cessation next season.
However, it was with West Coast - a club that the joint 2012 Brownlow medalist played 22-games for - that Mitchell first proved his coaching abilities.
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As the four-time premiership Hawk was tasked with leading the Eagles midfield group across their recent premiership season, it was Mitchell who successfully restructured the Western Australian club's engine room after Nic Naitanui and Andrew Gaff were rendered unavailable due to injury and suspension respectively.
These alterations were so prosperous that Schofield continued to heap further praise on his former teammate.
โIf you asked any player who was at West Coast in 2018 they would speak very highly of Sam Mitchell," he said.
"Heโs highly intelligent with a high footy IQ. Heโs a great educator who can teach young and senior players. Heโs a direct communicator."
Schofield also claimed that it was Mitchell's history with Hawthorn that saw him cut through in his first coaching role.
โHe cut his teeth at the Hawks where I imagine their leadership group meetings would have been pretty direct and honest. I responded well to him," the 149-gamer said.
โHe is also able to change his tone depending on who he speaks to. I canโt see it not working. Itโs a great appointment."
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The 50th pick in the 2006 draft pursued with his effusive praise by expressing that Mitchell was in fact the best assistant coach he had come into contact across his time in the AFL.
"Heโs the best assistant coach I ever played under,' Schofield said.
"Yes, I havenโt played under him as a head coach but heโs the best assistant I came across in 14 years of AFL football.โ
Despite this glowing recommendation, Schofield revealed that Mitchell had his work cut out for him at Waverley across the transition period between assistant and head coach.
The Geelong Falcons product who hung up the boots at the completion of last season cited the fact that the Hawks' young playing group may become the victims of mixed messaging.
โIt will be difficult as a player,โ Schofield explained.
โIf you have a head coach and an assistant that you know will take over, you wonโt deal with that assistant like you would any of the others. Relationships with assistant coaches are always closer. They are not making the final selection call and spend a lot more time with players.
โIf anything, it probably hurts his ability to be an assistant because guys will hold back a little bit.โ
The Mitchell led Box Hill Hawks will enjoy the bye in the VFL this weekend before facing Collingwood at the Box Hill City Oval on Saturday July 17 at 2:00pm AEST.
