Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney has outlined the club’s pass mark for first-year coach Sam Mitchell in 2022.
The Hawks selected a quartet of talented youngsters in this year’s National Draft - Josh Ward (pick 7), Sam Butler (pick 23), Connor MacDonald (pick 26) and Jai Serong (pick 53), as Mitchell looks to stamp his authority after replacing four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.
Hawthorn finished 14th in Clarkson’s final year at the helm, winning three of their last four games, including victories over Brisbane and Grand Finalists the Western Bulldogs.
Sportsday co-host Sam McClure asked McCartney: “Given everything that’s happened, what’s a pass mark for first-year coach Sam Mitchell next year?”
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Hawthorn’s Head of Football replied: “I think the pass mark is that Sam’s got to continue to build the young talent at our football club.
“Now, whether that’s a ladder position or just an understanding that we know these young players are getting better and we’re starting to get a group that we can call a ‘foundation group’ that we can start to build some future success around.
“I think that’ll be the KPI for Sam.
“We want to see that he’s continuing to develop that young group, that we’re starting to build a real core group of players that if we go to the draft over the next few years and pick well, that we get another chance in the future.”
McCartney also provided positive injury updates on key trio James Sicily, Jack Gunston and Will Day.
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