Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has described their 13-point loss to Fremantle as like a “punch to the stomach”, but declared his team is still up for the fight in the battle for a top-four berth.
The Dockers kicked four goals to zip in the final quarter at a heaving Optus Stadium on Saturday night to turn a 13-point deficit into a fighting 12.5 (77) to 9.10 (64) win.
Hawthorn would have been a win clear in fourth spot if they had beaten Fremantle.
Instead, they are now sixth on the log-jammed ladder with an 11-6 record – the same as the Dockers.
Hawthorn host Port Adelaide in Tasmania next Saturday, before rounding out their home-and-away campaign with games against Carlton, Adelaide, Collingwood, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Mitchell was gutted to see his team lose to Fremantle, but he doesn’t see it as the be-all-and-end-all.
“We look at the season holistically, and we know there’s nine teams that have got a slight gap on the on the rest, and there’s only eight that make the finals,” Mitchell said.
“And there’s only four that get what everyone really wants, which is the top-four spot.
“We know we’re going to have to play really consistent, high level footy for the rest of the season if we want to be where we want to get to.
“So if we had of won tonight, does that guarantee anything? No. Does losing tonight guarantee anything? No.
“So it’s a bit of a punch to the stomach, if you like, but we’ve still got plenty of fight in us for the rest of this season.
‘We’re sixth on the ladder, so the ball’s in our court, and we’ll lick our wounds … and get back at it.”
Mitchell has some food for thought on the selection front after forward Mitch Lewis kicked five goals in the VFL on Saturday.
Lewis, who tore his ACL late last year, has kicked 10 goals in his three VFL games since returning from injury.
Calsher Dear, who missed the first half of the season due to stress fractures in his back, kicked two goals against Fremantle on Saturday night in just his second AFL match of the year.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/hawks-vow-to-bounce-back-from-fremantles-sucker-punch-c-19336850
