Hawthorn aware of former Blues AFLW coach Daniel Harford’s interest in vacant women’s job
A former Hawk is in the mix to take on the club’s AFLW coaching vacancy, with president Andy Gowers opening up about the links.
AFL
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Hawthorn will not be rushed into an early extension for coach Sam Mitchell but is open to adding to the developing mentor’s contract next year, while the club is also hunting for a new AFLW coach.
Coach Bec Goddard retired at the end of the AFLW season.
Hawks president Andy Gowers said the club was aware of former Hawks player and Carlton AFLW coach Daniel Harford’s interest in the gig after this masthead revealed he wanted to coach again but the club was still seeking out candidates.
“A process has begun, a search has begun,” he said.
“We will work our way through that an announce when we are ready to announce.
“I believe he (Harford) is keen … I read it in the paper.”
Meanwhile, Mitchell does not come out of contract until the end of 2025, but AFL clubs have increasingly shown they are keen to lock down well-regarded coaches a year early to squash any pressure of coaching into the final year of a deal.
The former champion Hawthorn midfielder has won just 15 of his 45 games in charge since the start of 2022 but has been widely praised inside and outside of the club for his attacking gamestyle and development of a rebuilding list.
Mitchell jetted off to spend a week with English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and its sensational Australian manager Ange Postecoglou in October in a bid to grow his coaching.
Gowers said Hawthorn would continue to evaluate Mitchell’s contract status next year.
“He is doing a great job,” Gowers said.
“We will have our normal assessment of Sam’s position and we will work our way through that internally.”
The Hawks, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a new AFLW head coach after Bec Goddard’s retirement.
Gowers said he
Gowers would not be drawn into whether there was any movement on sanctions or payouts as part of the club’s First Nations review, after reports that Hawthorn could be penalised by the AFL.
“It’s an ongoing process and that is about all I can add,” he said.
WHY WINGARD’S ‘ALL IN’ ON HAWKS AFTER PIES MEETING
Veteran Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard says loyalty halted any genuine thoughts of a move to Collingwood despite meeting with the reigning premier last month.
The left-footer was open to be poached by any club once he was delisted by the Hawks, on the promise he would be taken again by the club in the rookie draft weeks later.
Hawthorn was aware of Wingard’s meeting with the Magpies but he decided to stick fat with the Hawks, who always wanted to keep the two-time All-Australian even as he nurses a torn achilles that will cost him much of the 2024 season.
Wingard said he had always stayed loyal to club wishes in his time in the AFL – having only left Port Adelaide for Hawthorn because the Power wanted him off the books – and once the Hawks proved they wanted the goalsneak, he was all in.
“It was an open conversation with both clubs, Hawthorn was very respectful and they were in a situation where they wanted me to stay and that is all it took for me to stay,” he said.
“It was a very honest, mature conversation.
“I am getting closer to the end of my career and Hawthorn holds a special part in that, so I am grateful I am staying here to help the kids.”
Wingard, 30, acknowledged he was caught between two clubs in completely different positions, with Collingwood aiming to defend its premiership in 2024 and Hawthorn hoping to break out of the bottom three.
“Every single player has those judgement calls every year and I have been loyal to both of my clubs in terms of whether they wanted me to go or stay,” he said.
“At Port Adelaide, when they asked me to be traded, I did their wishes and requested to come to Hawthorn.
“If Hawthorn were keen on trading me or getting rid of me, I would have been loyal to what they wanted but they wanted to keep me and I have been loyal to them and they have been loyal to me … it’s been a great partnership.”
Competition for spots as small in Hawthorn’s forward line is set to be fierce when Wingard returns from injury, with Magpie Jack Ginnivan and X-factor draftee Nick Watson added to the mix over the off-season, alongside goalkicking great Luke Breust and vice-captain Dylan Moore.
“They are great players and with more competition, that is going to push people to the next level,” Wingard said.
Wingard has been training on extremely light duties this pre-season as he begins his slow return to fitness and said he was happy with his progress.
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