Hawthorn players lift the lid on Sam Mitchell act at training that fuelled epic AFL turnaround

Hawthorn's players have hailed Sam Mitchell's hands-on approach at training and credited the Hawks coach for masterminding a stunning turnaround that saw them book a finals spot in 2024. Hawthorn started the season in worrying fashion after losing their first five matches but under Mitchell's guidance they went on to become one of the form teams in the AFL - finishing seventh to set up an elimination final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night.

Mitchell's now infamous spray for Jack Scrimshaw at quarter-time against the Swans in round seven has already been singled out as a major turning point in Hawthorn's season. The Hawks went from a 1-6 record at the time to win 13 of their next 16 games, with AFL great Jimmy Bartel recently making note of the Scrimshaw incident and commending the "emotional intelligence" that Mitchell has demonstrated as a young coach.

The 41-year-old has a habit of getting amongst the playing group on the training ground and it's helped the likes of rookie forward Nick Watson immensely. Mitchell has spoken about being the only person to work with Watson on his goal kicking to avoid over-saturating the young forward with advice. And the 19-year-old is averaging more than a goal per game in an impressive debut season in the AFL.

"He's like one of the players, really," Hawks wingman Massimo D'Ambrosio said. "He joins in at training, he picks up on things and tells you straight out and explains it to you. A lot of coaches can just tell you what you're doing wrong, but they never explain how you can get better, or how you can get to this position. I feel like he's really good at that."

D'Ambrosio - who Mitchell lured on a two-year deal from Essendon - has been transformed from a fringe flanker at Essendon to one of the competition's top wingmen. And the 21-year-old says his coach has had a massive impact on helping him grow as a player.

"He's been enormous for me," D'Ambrosio said. "I feel like he's trying to bring the best out of me every single week. Early on in the year, and even now, I still have doubts going into games on my performance, but he's always bringing positive energy to me. I've loved playing under him the whole year, but I just can't wait to keep playing for him."

Sam Mitchell's coaching approach resonating with players

Mitchell was renowned for being an uncompromising, combative and intelligent player who constantly drove the standards in a Hawks side he won four premierships with. And while there is still plenty of that fire from his playing days evident in his coaching, Mitchell has also encouraged Hawthorn's flashier players to express themselves on the field and instilling a belief that they can achieve something special together in his third season in charge.

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Luke Breust was Mitchell's teammate for three of the four premierships his coach won and says he's been able to translate that winning mentality to the playing group. "Sam and I had a great relationship on the field. He was such a smart footballer," the 33-year-old Breust said about his coach and former teammate. "Yeah, there were times where he was screaming at me as the ball was exiting the forward line that I'd done something wrong, or I missed a first give or something like that. He'd certainly let you know.

"That combative nature, he was so honest and he just wanted the best for the team, and whatever that took, then he was willing to do it. Has he changed? Yeah, there's still an element of that side of him where he can be brutally honest when he needs to be. His biggest growth has been letting these guys express themselves and be themselves in their own way, and embracing that and not squashing it."

The Hawks will be up against it taking on a much more experienced Bulldogs outfit on Friday night, considering they're without midfielders Will Day (collarbone) and Cameron Mackenzie (hamstring). But whether they keep the ride going or go down in flames, Mitchell's Hawks are guaranteed to keep on celebrating with aplomb. "I feel like a lot of the boys buy into that, and there's no right or wrong thing to do," D'Ambrosio said. That's what Sam's created at this club, and no one's judged for what they do. So it's a great environment to be in."

AFL week one finals schedule:

• Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong - Thursday September 5, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm

• Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - Friday September 6, MCG, 7.40pm

• First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS - Saturday September 7, SCG, 3.20pm

• First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton - Saturday September 7, Gabba, 7.30pm

with AAP