AFL 2025: Sam Mitchell shuts down any concerns of a groin issue to captain James Sicily

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has jumped to the defence of captain James Sicily amid reports he’s led the Hawks injured.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has jumped to the defence of captain James Sicily, labelling reports of a sore groin “a storm in a teacup”.

Sicily was under the microscope after last week’s loss to Brisbane through reports he had been playing with an injured groin.

Mitchell denied Sicily had been leading the club through an injury cloud before praising his leadership.

“The groins aren’t an issue, he’s working really hard on his game (and) I thought he played really well last week,” Mitchell said.

“The thing about ‘Sic’ is he’s led us really well, his leadership has been really strong through the tougher periods in particular.

“If you look at the last couple of years when we’ve really needed players to stand up, he’s often been that guy.

“I look at his leadership and am really pleased he’s the captain of the club and we’ve got him doing things he’s doing.

“Has he played perfect footy this year? No, of course not, but no one has.

“I thought he improved significantly last week, took a lot of intercept marks and a lot intercept possessions.”

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has jumped to the defence of captain James Sicily. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Sicily disposed at 100 per cent against the Lions, leaving Mitchell quick to quell a secondary question about the captain’s groin causing kicking concerns.

Mitchell jokingly requested vision of Sicily’s kicking before labelling the worry “a storm in a teacup”.

“I am not going to go into the details, I am not concerned about his kicking,” he said.

“His groins are fine, he’s playing every week, there’s no reason that his kicking has anything to do with his groins, his groins are fine.

“He kicked the ball reasonably well last week I thought. Go watch all of his kicks and tell me which ones you could do better. Bring them back, show me some vision.

“I am very happy with his kicking. I could get you all the kicks he’s done that hardly anyone in the competition could pull off he’s done in the last month.

“The kicking, that is a storm in a teacup.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Sam Mitchell shuts down any concerns of a groin issue to captain James Sicily