HAWTHORN midfielder Sam Mitchell says there’s plenty of improvement left in the Hawks despite its impressive 47-point win over Collingwood on Saturday at the MCG.
The Hawks have now defeated last year’s grand finalists twice this year, but Mitchell admits that the Club won’t be resting on its laurels.
Instead, Mitchell says the Hawks players and coaching staff are committed to finding ways to improve in all facets of the game.
“Our form line has been okay, I don’t think we’re playing our absolute best footy, although we did play very well on the weekend,” Mitchell said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.
“We’ve still got some improvement left.
“Externally, you probably look at how we’re playing and that way we’re going about it and think ‘they’re going okay, they won’t be doing too much.’”
“[But] internally, we’re still furiously trying to find better ways to play and better ways to score and better ways to try and stop the opposition from scoring.”
In arguably one of the Club’s best performances this season, the Hawks dominated Collingwood in all facets of the game.
Contested possessions, clearances, tackles and inside 50s were among the key stats won by the Hawks in Saturday’s convincing win over last year’s grand finalists.
Mitchell credits the ability of each player to perform his role for the team, however, was the key to the 47-point win.
“It was a good even performance,” Mitchell said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.
“A lot of players played well and played their roles, a lot of things that we tried as a side really worked.”
One of those “things” was sending midfielder Jordan Lewis forward.
The Hawthorn Vice-Captain was entrusted with the important job of nullifying Collingwood playmaker Heath Shaw, a role he performed with aplomb.
Mitchell says though, that Lewis’ five goal haul was a bonus, considering the great leadership the Hawks no. 3 showed in preparing for the match.
“He goes and plays as a defensive forward, which is not the most glamorous role but he does it,” Mitchell said.
“He was able to be get on the scoreboard, which is great.
“[But] the attitude that he did it with was what we were most pleased about.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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