2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell says he’s been left immediately impressed by new recruit Jonathon Patton at training.
After seven years at the Giants, Patton opted for a move to Hawthorn at the end of 2019 after an injury-interrupted time at the expansion club.
Patton didn’t play last season due to a third ACL injury but Mitchell said all the signs were positive ahead of his first season at Hawthorn.
“It’s surprised me with how well he’s moving at training to be honest,” he said on SEN Summer Breakfast.
“He took some really strong contested marks up in our training camp on the Sunshine Coast and hopefully that’s a good sign of things to come.
“He’s slotted in with all the boys really well and fitted in nicely so I think he’ll be a great player for us.
Hawthorn have plenty of options up forward and Mitchell said he was excited to see how the 198cm tall would fit in their forward half.
“It think can only help having an anchor up forward,” he said.
“If the midfielders are under pressure and just need to let the ball go, you’ve got someone up there who’s going to compete and bring the ball to ground for our smaller forwards.
“He’s been working alongside Mitch Lewis – we’ve got Tim O’Brien and Jack Gunston who are other guys who can play tall up (in the forward) line as well.
“Hopefully that synergy clicks pretty quickly and we can see what they can do.”
You can listen to Tom Mitchell on SEN Summer Breakfast in the player below.