Mitchell’s Hawks insight that fascinated Cornes

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell provided the media with some fascinating insight in the lead-up to his side’s win over Sydney on Thursday night.

Mitchell was a guest on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters on Tuesday night before he held a conference call with the AFL’s host broadcaster the following day.

It was there that Kane Cornes gained some interesting information from Mitchell regarding some of his players, and one in particular, Dylan Moore.

Cornes explained how Mitchell allows Moore, as well as Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson, to write their own ticket in terms of where they spend most of their time on-field.

Mitchell also pointed out what he expects from a player like Moore who kicked three goals from 22 disposals in Hawthorn’s 17-point win over the Swans at the MCG.

“I want to give a bit of an insight into the way that Hawthorn managed their week from a media point of view,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“Sam Mitchell came in to the Agenda Setters and was terrific on Tuesday night. Then Channel 7 have been asking throughout the week whether the coaches of the teams that we are covering will have any time to do a sort of conference call.

“They do it in the NFL a little bit where they'll catch up with the broadcasters prior to the game to give you a bit of an insight. So we did that on Wednesday.

“And I just want to speak about Dylan Moore, because someone asked the question, ‘Does anyone have the Nasiah (Wanganeen-Milera) licence? Go anywhere, you can go play midfield, up the ground, whatever?’.

“He said, ‘Oh, not necessarily, but I do give a bit of a licence to Ginnivan, Moore and Watson, the way that they work together’.

“His instruction to Dylan Moore is be close enough to goal where you can kick three, but also be around the footy enough where you can get 20 disposals. He said, ‘My instruction to Dylan Moore is I want you 20 and three’.

“And I just look at the stats, and Dylan Moore's had 22 and kicked three.

“I thought to be able to put that on the radar with how you want to use your player (was fascinating insight). He said, ‘If you're getting 28 touches you're too high, if you're kicking six goals, you’re too deep. I want you 20 and three’.

“It's just a really good insight of how to manage a player like that, and you wouldn't know that unless they give you that insight.

“So, I thought Dylan Moore's performance, his running ability, the way that he works with Watson and Ginnivan - they've got something unique about the way they structure up with their small forwards

“Chuck in (Connor) Macdonald as well, it's a real weapon for them, I reckon.”

The 2-1 Hawks will have a nice break before next suiting up against Geelong on Easter Monday in Round 4.