Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Towering Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis has admitted the speculation around his future this year took a toll on him.
The 27-year-old signed a four-year deal in July to remain with the Hawks, turning down significant interest from Collingwood.
Lewis’ signature came just after Hawthorn recontracted veteran forward Jack Gunston, while also planning to bring in Gold Coast spearhead Ben King.
“It does; probably because you’re getting heckled about it during the forwards goal kicking,” Lewis said of the contract uncertainty.
“But on a serious note, it does affect you.
“I’d feel sorry for guys that sort of carry that throughout a whole season, constantly under speculation in the media and having to answer questions, because it does take its toll.
“It was unwavering in the sense that I wanted to stay, but even so, it took its toll and I was glad that it finally got done because I had a lot of time to think about other things.”
Lewis denies King’s looming arrival came up in contract discussions.
With the Suns’ season finished, King has already informed the club he will be leaving during the trade period.
While King hasn’t officially nominated a club, the 26-year-old will almost certainly request a move to Hawthorn some time in the next six weeks.
“We didn’t speak about Ben King, or anyone in particular, in terms of my role,” Lewis said.
“The conversations I had with list management and the coaches were I was a wanted player, and they saw a key role in the forward line and in the side.
“That was enough for me.
“As many good players we can get into the side is encouraging.”
Lewis is not concerned by how King could potentially affect Hawthorn’s forward line structure.
The Hawks would be unlikely to play Lewis, Gunston, King and Mabior Chol in the same forward line.
Developing key forward Calsher Dear is considering his options as rival clubs try to entice him to leave Hawthorn in search of more opportunities elsewhere.
Dear has spent the majority of the season in the VFL, playing just five AFL matches.
“You’ve seen what Freo have done with their three-pronged key position attack (Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss and Jye Amiss) and how hard that is for opposition defences to try get after,” said Lewis.
“If we can get something like that at the Hawks, I reckon it’d be pretty good.”
After 100 games for Hawthorn across 10 seasons, Lewis is preparing for just his third final when the Hawks travel to face minor premiers Fremantle on Thursday night.
“There’s numerous reasons,” Lewis replied when asked why he wanted to stay at Hawthorn.
“One being they took me at pick 76, second-last pick in the draft in 2016.
“I wasn’t great at football in my first couple of years.
“I had to wait a while, and I’ve had my fair share of injuries, so to be able to repay that faith in a sense was something that was really important to me.”
