Sam Mitchell is happy Hawthorn will be playing fierce rivals Geelong at GMHBA Stadium behind closed doors.
The Hawks are preparing for their first trip down the highway in 14 years to play the Cats in what is the first Friday night match of the revised 2020 fixture.
Mitchell says Geelong will miss playing in front of their “passionate” fans and that could work in Hawthorn’s favour.
“If you’re going to play Geelong in Geelong, you want to do it with no crowds,” Hawthorn’s assistant coach told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“I think the Geelong crowd is perhaps the most passionate just about in the league other than the Hawks fans.
“If you’re going to play there, you want to do it with no crowds so they don’t have that advantage, and to be fair, hopefully we can get some crowds later on in the year.
“You want to play as many away games as you can at this period rather than later on in the year when hopefully there are some crowds and the home ground advantage.”
Hawthorn have won nine of their past 12 games at the Cattery, including a 52-point win in their last visit to the venue in 2006.