Hawthorn's new coaching group has finally met as one after some of the coaches made the move across the country to commence their roles.

It comes as the club prepares for its first-to-fourth year players to return for pre-season training from November 22, while the remaining players will commence on December 6. 

From the bunker to the corporate box, draft is back at Marvel

New Hawks assistants Adrian Hickmott and David Hale have only recently arrived in Melbourne after moving from Western Australia.

During the past fortnight, the coaches have been undertaking significant planning as Hawthorn's Head Coach Sam Mitchell eyes his first season as coach.

Speaking on 3AW's Sportsday, Head of Football Rob McCartney said there was an energised feeling around the club and the new coaches.

“We’ve been really strategic around the coaching team that we’ve put around Sam," McCartney said.

“I think that was probably the first piece, putting a strong group of coaches who have a point of difference, who complement but are not the same as each other.

“While Chris Newman remains as an assistant coach, the ability to add Hickmott, Robert Harvey and Hale to that assistant coaching team has been pretty significant.

“I think the other appointment that might fly under the radar a little bit is Andy Collins. Andy spent a year with Sam in the Box Hill program, playing a bit of a mentorship with him. I think that has been significantly important as well."

McCartney said there was some growth and improvement to be made next season.

“I think we showed some improvement in the second half of season 2021, but what we do recognise though is that during the past two seasons we’ve finished 16th and 14th, and that doesn’t sit overly well with us,” he said.

“What we’re looking for is improvement, and where that takes us? That probably depends on a little bit of our growth and what the rest of the competition does.

“We feel as though we’ve got a young, evolving group.”

McCartney said it was great that some of the younger players including the likes of Dylan Moore, Jacob Koschitzke and Changkuoth Jiath were able to play close to 20 games this year.

The Hawks are set to welcome veteran’s Jack Gunston and James Sicily for a full pre-season after they both missed the 2021 season due to injuries.

McCartney said the club was also in a strong position heading into the draft with Picks 5, 21 and 24.

“If there is one area of the ground that we are pretty solid in, it is our defensive end,” he said.

“But I think always in that first and earliest pick is that its best player available more than likely. We think we’ll pick up a pretty good player at that Pick 5.

“With Picks 21 and 24 that’s probably then coming down to what we would like to add to our midfield and forward group.”