Hawthorn has finalised its 2026 AFL coaching panel, with four new faces making up a new-look team to lead the Hawks next year. 

Sam Mitchell will once again lead the Club as Senior Coach as he enters his fifth season at the helm.

After coaching the Hawks to finals in the past two seasons, Mitchell is set to notch up his 100th game in charge in 2026 and will become the Club’s fifth-longest serving coach.

Former Western Bulldogs star Daniel Giansiracusa and Box Hill legend David Mirra are among the new faces joining the Hawks in 2026, with Giansiracusa appointed the Club’s Head of Development and Mirra to serve as VFL Senior Coach, while working within the AFL program as a development coach. 

Former Port Adelaide Development Coach Jason Williams and Western Bulldogs premiership player Jason Johanissen round out the new additions to the 2026 coaching panel, with both taking on roles as development coaches next year. 

After serving as Midfield Coach for the past three years, former premiership Hawk David Hale will lead the Club’s structure and opposition analysis next season. Meanwhile, in a direct swap of roles, David Mackay will move from structure and opposition to take charge of the midfield.

Three faces will return to the coaching panel in 2026, with Brett Ratten again serving as Head of Coaching Performance and Development, Kade Simpson taking charge of the backline, and Adrian Hickmott leading the forwards. 

HAWTHORN’S 2026 AFL COACHING PANEL 

Sam Mitchell - Senior Coach 
Brett Ratten - Head of Coaching Performance & Development 
Kade Simpson - Backline Coach 
David Mackay - Midfield Coach 
Adrian Hickmott - Forwards Coach 
David Hale - Assistant Coach - Structure & Opposition 
Daniel Giansiracusa - Head of Development 
David Mirra - VFL Senior Coach/ AFL Development Coach 
Jason Williams - AFL Development Coach 
Jason Johanissen - AFL Development Coach