AFL: In-form Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis credits ex-Cat and Blue Adrian Hickmott for mental transformation

Mitch Lewis sits alongside Harry McKay and Charlie Cameron in the top 10 of the Coleman Medal race as the big Hawk continues to emerge.

Hawthorn’s Mitch Lewis is one of the AFL’s most prolific forwards this year. Picture: Michael Klein

Emerging Hawk Mitch Lewis credits “strange unit” assistant coach Adrian Hickmott for the mental transformation that has helped make him one of the AFL’s best key forwards.

Lewis kicked an equal-career-high five goals to half-time on Sunday – but none thereafter – to set up Hawthorn’s much-needed victory over Adelaide.

The 23-year-old inked a new, lucrative four-year deal in recent weeks as recognition of his breakout campaign, which includes 36 goals from 12 games.

Only Coleman Medal frontrunner Charlie Curnow is averaging more goals per game this year than Lewis, one of the draft’s great bargains at No.76 in 2016.

“I feel really confident with where I’m placed within the group and confident within myself,” Lewis said.

“I know how to prepare for AFL footy now, and to be able to be consistent for pretty much most of the year (is pleasing).

Mitch Lewis has firmly established himself as the Hawks’ No.1 target. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve had a couple of off performances but for the most part I’ve been relatively consistent, so that’s always good.”

Lewis first hinted at being a top-line talent in the second half of 2019 after being dumped to the VFL, kicking 13 goals and grasping 15 contested marks in the last six games.

But off-season shoulder surgery and the arrival of Jon Patton from the Giants contributed to an underwhelming follow-up season.

Lewis re-established himself last year before the infamous mid-season boxing incident where teammate Jacob Koschitzke accidentally concussed him derailed his momentum.

He put on size in the pre-season to be able to better take on the best key defenders and now tips the scales at 100kg, but said developing more belief was every bit as important.

Mitch Lewis dominated in the first half against Adelaide opponent Jordon Butts. Picture: Getty Images

“There’s probably no secrets. I’ve worked really hard and worked on the mental side of things as well,” Lewis said.

“Adrian Hickmott has been really good coming into the club (from West Coast).

“He’s a bit of a strange unit but he’s got a couple of tricks and secrets that get me up and about for game day and he keeps me motivated, so I’ll thank ‘Hick’ for some of that.”

Crows backman Nick Murray had much more success on Lewis than his first opponent, Jordon Butts, and the star Hawk said he would look into the reasons why he wasn’t able to “go on with it”.

“Adelaide made a positional change on me and really put the clamps on me in the second half and were really physical in their defence,” Lewis said.

“That definitely played a part and I tried to get a bit higher up the ground as well, which probably meant I wasn’t in front of goals as much, but I’m happy to have an impact and ultimately happy with the win as well.”

Originally published as AFL: In-form Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis credits ex-Cat and Blue Adrian Hickmott for mental transformation