Koschitzke stuck in VFL as Hawks persist with makeshift forward line

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has explained why an out-of-favour key forward will be spending more time in the reserves.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell says Jacob Koschitzke is down on confidence and needs more time in the VFL. Picture: Michael Klein

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell says Jacob Koschitzke remains part of his long-term plans but is not the immediate solution to the Hawks’ tall forward shortage.

The Hawks will unleash another debutante against GWS on Sunday with 20-year-old Seamus Mitchell named to play his first at Norwood Oval after starring in the VFL but comes in to boost the backline and not address their goalkicking.

The Hawks will be without their attacking focal point Mitch Lewis until round 7 as he recovers from an ACL sprain, but Koschitzke’s form struggles have prevented him from grasping the opportunity to cement a spot in the forward line.

Koschitzke kicked 27 goals in 20 games in 2021 while Lewis was absent for most of the season through injury, but Mitchell said the 22-year-old had suffered an unfortunate drop in form and confidence just when a spot had opened back up.

“I think with Kosi, he’s still making a lot of progress as a player; we’ve been talking to him regularly about ‘you’re a very good player’, averaging seven shots on goal a week for about a month in the pre-season,” Mitchell said.

Inaccuracy in front of goal over the pre-season may have cost Jacob Koschitzke some confidence, with two goalless VFL appearances since he was omitted. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

“We went to work on his goalkicking and he’s lost a little bit of his forward craft, so getting that balance right is part of your development as a player.

‘We just think the best thing for his development will be to continue to play in the VFL for a little bit longer to find that form and confidence.”

Mitchell said trying to nail down his side’s best forward and midfield mix in Lewis’ absence had been one of his biggest challenges this season, with the Hawks the lowest-scoring team, with an average of just 57 points per game in the first four rounds.

The Hawthorn coach wishes he could have a second Jai Newcombe, with the strong-bodied midfielder providing a strong target when he spent significant periods forward against North Melbourne and Geelong.

Jai Newcombe has only kicked one goal this season but has been an important forward presence for the Hawks in the absence of a key position target. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

“He’s such a great forward target for us, but he obviously gives us that real grunt around the ball, with his tackling pressure and his physicality … we probably did miss it at times, particularly in the third quarter last week,” Mitchell said.

“So trying to get the balance right with our midfield-forward group – to be honest, it’s been one of the challenges of the season.

“We’ve gone from 18th at clearances last year and we’re in front of the ledger at the moment; I think we’re fifth … but being able to convert that into scores in front of the ball has been a challenge for us.”

Mitchell said Chad Wingard would come into the Hawks’ 22 after coming on as the substitute against Geelong, adding there was “no frustration” from the veteran small forward over the decision.

“He was great last week and he understood that it was about getting minutes into him and making sure we could protect him a little bit … he was obviously overloaded in the early part of the season,” he said.

Originally published as Koschitzke stuck in VFL as Hawks persist with makeshift forward line