Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell says captain James Sicily “needs to be better” after making disparaging feedback about Tasmania that he was compelled to apologise for.
Responding to a query concerning the potential list-build points for a brand new Tasmanian staff throughout a radio interview on Wednesday, Sicily mentioned he “couldn’t imagine myself living there”.
The first-year captain apologised for the feedback, calling them “flippant”, after they created a social media storm with rebuttals from former Australian Test cricketers Tim Paine and Matthew Wade, each proud Tasmanians.
The feedback had been extra vital given the Tasmanian authorities has been a long-time sponsor of Hawthorn, who play video games yearly on the Apple Isle.
Earlier this yr, the partnership was prolonged with a two-year deal price $13.5m, and the federal authorities is on the verge of pledging $240m to construct a brand new stadium for Tasmania’s personal AFL staff.
On Thursday morning, Mitchell mentioned he had spoken to his skipper and conceded Sicily wanted to be extra cautious with what he mentioned.
“I spoke to him a few times, he’s got to learn from this,” Mitchell mentioned.
“But by the same token he’s frustrated because it’s not what he meant. It’s not a reflection of his thinking … but as the captain of the club he needs to be better.
“He was much more talking about his personal situation.”
Mitchell, who mentioned Sicily was not requested to apologise in any official capability, was at pains to say he and the gamers cherished their reference to Tasmania.
That contains Sicily who stayed an additional day after final week’s slim loss to GWS.
“I’ve been going there for 20 years . We love our time in Tassie,” he mentioned.
“We have the players the option if they wanted to stay because we had a day off the next day.
“More than half of the players actually stayed in Tassie, including James, after the game and spent some extra time there.”
Mitchell additionally had a “strong” speak to Sicily who confirmed he took himself off within the last minutes of that video games in opposition to the Giants. The coach mentioned he ought to have been on the market.
“We have to take some responsibility for not giving him a rest earlier,” he mentioned.
“He felt, personally, like he was a liability because he was so fatigued, but what he doesn’t recognise is everyone else walks taller when he’s around them.
“There was five or six of us who cost us the game … we have to look at those things.”
The coach confirmed gun ahead Mitch Lewis wanted solely to finish coaching to return from a knee damage for Saturday’s conflict with the Western Bulldogs.
“He’ll come straight in,” Mitchell mentioned.
Originally revealed as Hawthorn captain James Sicily will get dressing down from coach over Tasmania feedback
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
