Hawks coach happy to play the long game
HAWTHORN will unashamedly continue to offer midfield opportunities to emerging pair Jai Newcombe and Josh Ward at the expense of estabstablished stars to faststtrack their ir development.
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell’s actions through the first five rounds have proven that but also his words, their 3-2 record defies juggling act of remaining competitive with more of a longterm view. Stand-in captain Jaeger O’meara and Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell remain Hawthorn’s clear-cut best onballers but attended the fifthand third-most centre attendances, respectively, in last week’s upset of Geelong.
Mitchell won 25 of his gamehigh 33 disposals in the second half to be vital in the result but Newcombe and Ward were both at a team-most 21 centre bounces in a reflection of coach Mitchell’s priorities. O’meara still leads the club in centre attendances this season but gathered more than 20 disposals just once 22 in the round 2 against Port Adelaide – after averaging 26.3 touches last year under Alastair Clarkson.
“It might not be better for (O’meara) specifically, but for the group,” Mitchell said. “What we’re looking for is strong team performance. I thought Jaeger had some really key moments in the game … he led outstandingly well last week despite not having a big game on the stat sheet.”