Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has heaped reward on his midfield after a 116-point rout of West Coast lifted the membership off the underside of the AFL ladder.
The Hawks ran roughshod over the injury-hit Eagles in Launceston on Sunday to clinch their second win of the season and rise to sixteenth on the ladder.
Mitchell urged his group to benefit from the victory after “capturing themselves within the foot” final spherical in opposition to Melbourne, and slender losses to GWS and Adelaide in April.
“Most video games this 12 months we have taken some steps of enchancment,” he mentioned.
“Numerous issues went proper (in opposition to West Coast). However a number of the progress we have comprised of the coaching we have achieved was the factor we’re in all probability probably the most happy with.”
Hawthorn dominated throughout the person and group stat sheets, with Mitch Lewis scoring a career-best six objectives.
James Sicily and Conor Nash picked up an equal game-high 30 possessions, whereas Josh Weddle and James Worpel weren’t far behind with 28 and 27 respectively.
Mitchell mentioned Nash had taken his sport to a brand new degree this 12 months as a part of his shift in the direction of the center of the sector.
“If it isn’t him, it is (Jai) Newcombe, (James) Worpel, (Will) Day, (Cam) Mackenzie or (Josh Weddle),” Mitchell mentioned.
“The stability of our midfield is without doubt one of the strengths of what we’re producing for the time being.
“Final 12 months we have been form of 18th in most midfield statistics,” Mitchell mentioned.
“We thought if we rejuvenated the midfield particularly that is likely to be an space we may enhance fairly shortly (however) we’re removed from a completed manufacturing across the center of the bottom.”
Hawthorn play St Kilda on Saturday afternoon however could also be compelled to make adjustments, with Sam Frost on report for putting.
Ruckman Nat Reeves was subbed out within the third quarter with an ankle drawback.
“He had a little bit of an ankle (concern) the final couple of weeks. I am unsure whether it is in the identical form of space. It was fairly precautionary,” Mitchell mentioned.
