Ahead of one of the most anticipated matches of their 2026 AFL season, Hawthorn Hawks head coach Sam Mitchell has opened up about how his squad has processed their humiliating 67-point loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last weekend — revealing the side has already put the disappointing result firmly in the rearview mirror.
The defeat marked the heaviest loss the Hawks have suffered so far this 2026 campaign, a lopsided result that saw third-placed Hawthorn fail to live up to their usual high standards against a dominant Lions side. But speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, just two days out from Saturday night’s clash against Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Mitchell made it clear the club is refusing to dwell on the upset.
Mitchell explained that after the defeat, the coaching and playing group spent a short period reviewing the match, identifying key mistakes and taking away lessons to improve future performance, before intentionally shifting their full focus to the upcoming round. “You guys will keep talking about it, and rightly so, that’s your job – but for us we assess what happened in the game, we learn some lessons and we move on,” Mitchell said. “I haven’t thought or done anything about the Brisbane game for two days now. We spent a couple of days reflecting, analyzing, getting better, but then we move on.”
When breaking down where the Hawks went wrong against Brisbane, Mitchell pinpointed wasteful finishing and a failure to convert scoring chances as the main cause of the lopsided scoreline. He added that he expects the squad to address that issue when they take the field against Collingwood this weekend.
This weekend’s match at the MCG will be Hawthorn’s final home game of the 2026 regular season, adding extra stakes to the encounter. Preparing to face off against the Pies, Mitchell acknowledged the strength of the opposition, noting Collingwood’s tight tactical structure and well-drilled game plan under their coaching staff. He highlighted star defender Nick Daicos as a particular threat, noting the player demands constant attention from opposing defenses, and confirmed the Hawks are working on a game plan to balance limiting Daicos’ impact while leaning into their own on-field strengths.
Following the Collingwood clash, Hawthorn will close out their regular season with a trip west to Perth, where they will face off against the West Coast Eagles in round 24.