AFL
1 year ago
Mitchell certain he’s not alone as an AFL coach that personally calls free agents and trade targets
By Lachlan Geleit
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has responded to reports that he has called St Kilda free agent Josh Battle to try and lure him to Waverley Park.
The report, by SEN’s Sam Edmund, said that Mitchell phoned Battle personally and they’ve had multiple conversations about his future as the unrestricted free agent weighs up interest from multiple clubs.
The report also said that Mitchell has previously been proactive in trying to bring recruits to Hawthorn as he flew to Perth to meet ruckman Lloyd Meek in 2022 before his trade move.
Mitchell didn’t deny any report surrounding Battle but did suggest that every coach in the AFL is doing everything they can to help improve their list.
He says he’ll continue trying to convince players who could be gettable about potential moves to Hawthorn.
“You know, I always have a little chuckle because every year, especially with us in my time they're talking about, ‘Oh, the Hawks have got cap space’,” Mitchell said on SEN Breakfast.
“So, every free agent or everyone who's moving gets linked to us and some of them have been right and some of them have been wrong over the journey. I'm not going to sit here and talk about who I'm talking to or who I'm not.
“But I know that every coach in the league is doing everything in their power to improve their list and whether that's through draft, free agency or trades, then I think coaches are a part of the list management process, but not the biggest part.
“We certainly have a whole team of people that are trying to make sure we build the best list we can.
“Any talented players who could be available that we think will help us, then we do what we can to try and convince them that Hawthorn would be a good place for them to be.”
Mitchell also reflected on times when his pitches don’t work out, and the one that sticks out most is Ben McKay, who chose Essendon over Hawthorn after leaving North Melbourne via free agency last off-season.
While Mitchell was disappointed to miss out on McKay, he says you can’t be disappointed by any player who decides to pick another club for whatever reason.
“Ben McKay would be the most obvious one,” Mitchell said.
“I really liked him as a player at North and now he's gone to Essendon and he's doing what I suspected he would do. He's been really important for them.
“He was a player I was disappointed that we weren't able to convince to come across to us.
“You have to have an understanding of where you're at as a club where your deficiencies are and where your strengths are and make sure that you are the most appealing place to be as an organisation.
“But I think you can't ever be disappointed with a player who decides to not go to you.
“You just have to make sure they never get a kick against you again.”
According to reports, Battle is also weighing up interest from Melbourne and Collingwood as well as Hawthorn.
