Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Sam Mitchell has warned of the need for a sharp, short-term AFL focus at Hawthorn ahead of a stern test from Marcus Bontempelli and his resurgent Western Bulldogs.
The Hawks will start favourites on Friday night at the MCG ahead of their mid-season bye, having mauled St Kilda a week ago to sit third on the ladder.
But with ruckman Tim English back, the Dogs have put a four-game losing streak behind them and have won three of their last four.
Mitchell has made it clear that talk of what Hawthorn do with their upcoming time off can wait.
“What bye? That’s kind-of our attitude. We have to perform well,” the Hawks coach said before Wednesday morning training.
“We will talk about what we do after the game, after the game. We have chatted about, let’s put some time aside to figure out what everyone wants to do over their break.
“But let’s not refresh before. Let’s refresh when it’s time to refresh.
“Over the next 60 hours we have one focus and that’s taking down the Dogs. Then after that, we can do it with a smile on our face if we get a good result.”
Mitchell is worried about the Bulldogs midfield, with their captain Bontempelli at its heart.
“I think I called (Max) Gawn the player of this generation – Paddy Dangerfield was probably disappointed with me saying that,” Mitchell said.
“Bont is probably in the same (category). Those guys are absolutely first-class.”
Mitchell was then challenged to rank Bontempelli, Gawn and Dangerfield.
“I will let that go through to the ‘keeper – Bont this week,” he grinned.
Mitchell also noted Ed Richards, Ryley Sanders and Matt Kennedy are in solid form through the Bulldogs’ midfield.
“When we can’t win the contest against a team like the Bulldogs, you’re really going to struggle for territory,” he said.
“We’ve seen we don’t play our best footy if we don’t control that part of the game.”
While a coach is never happy, Mitchell is blessed with an in-form team and a short injury list.
Will Day made a successful comeback last week, while Tom Barrass (hamstring) and Conor Nash (neck spasms) are on the verge of returning.
“The best way to be a really good coach is to have really good players … and have them all healthy,” Mitchell said.
Meanwhile, the Hawks coach said he had “sent a few questions up the flag pole” to the AFL umpiring department after Nick Watson’s halftime goal was disallowed because he ran off the line.
“I didn’t think it was an umpiring issue. I thought it was a rule issue … it’s getting closer to a resolution,” Mitchell said.
