Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is raring for his crew to “take a chunk” out of their higher-placed AFL rivals throughout the last six rounds, and Richmond are first on their hit record.
The Hawks sit a disappointing sixteenth on the ladder with a 5-12 file in Mitchell’s second season in cost.
A round-13 win over the premiership-contending Brisbane Lions on the MCG was Hawthorn’s spotlight of the yr, whereas a 116-point flogging of last-placed West Coast and a 10-point victory over St Kilda have been additionally spectacular.
Hawthorn’s two different success’s got here towards North Melbourne, together with final week’s 48-point triumph at Marvel Stadium.
It means three of Hawthorn’s 5 wins this yr have come towards the underside two sides and Mitchell is eager for his crew to snare some larger scalps.
After dealing with a resurgent Tigers on the MCG on Saturday, Hawthorn face the Saints, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Fremantle in a tricky run dwelling.
“Our challenge is to be able to take a chunk out of the next group of teams who are in front of us,” Mitchell informed reporters on Thursday.
“We’ve had some close losses to GWS, Adelaide, and those teams.
“We have not been capable of beat sufficient of these groups to place us in that subsequent bracket, which is why we sit the place we do on the ladder.
“Richmond is a perfect opportunity for us to see if we can start to beat some teams who are in front of us on the ladder.”
Hawthorn generated a whopping 70 inside 50s towards the Kangaroos final week.
The Hawks booted a wayward 3.13 within the first half, earlier than ending the match with 12.16 (88) to their identify.
Mitchell desires to see his crew money in on the ahead 50m entries.
“I think we need to work on our forward 50 efficiency,” Mitchell stated.
“Two weeks ago (in a 13-point loss to GWS), we had 55 inside 50s for five marks, and on the weekend 71 inside 50s for nine.
“So the effectivity of going ahead and discovering a mark hasn’t been nice.
“But we are getting deep entries and we are getting more inside 50s.”
Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath is dealing with one other stint on the sidelines after injuring his groin within the VFL final week.
“We’re hopeful he’ll get back before the end of the season,” Mitchell stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
