Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell to miss restart of pre-season training, to be eased back into role

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is set to miss the Hawks’ return to pre-season as he continues to recover from a bout of pneumonia which left him hospitalised over Christmas.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell will miss the start of pre-season training as he continues to recover from pneumonia. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has not returned to Australia and will miss Wednesday’s pre-season restart as he continues to recover from pneumonia.

The coach and four-time flag-winning player remains in the United States and spent time in a New York hospital in December after falling ill while on holidays with his family.

Mitchell is recovering well and is planning to return to Melbourne later this week and step back into work next week, with the Hawks hoping to ease him back into coaching.

Hawthorn returns to pre-season training on Wednesday and players were informed of Mitchell’s health status on Monday.

Given the plan to begin reintegrating him to work next week, Hawthorn hasn’t appointed a stand-in senior coach.

Pneumonia is an infection that can cause lungs to fill up with fluid and Mitchell’s case was described as “serious” by Hawthorn, with it prompting the coach to be admitted to hospital in December.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell will miss the start of pre-season training as he continues to recover from pneumonia. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

He was discharged before the new year and has been recovering since to get to a level of health where he can make the long flight back to Australia.

Mitchell has been in contact with the club throughout the health scare.

Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said Mitchell was ready to return to Melbourne this week but “will still need some time to return to full fitness and health”.

“Sam will initially have a phased return to his role as senior coach, spending time in our program early in the week whilst also continuing to have the rest that is required for him to return quickly to full health,” McCartney said.

“Over the past two seasons we have built an experienced and skilled coaching group. I’m extremely confident that when Sam is not present in the program, they will continue to prepare our group so we are ready to perform when the 2024 season starts.

“Our priority at the moment is ensuring that Sam recovers to full health as quickly as possible, and we are confident that this phased return will support this.”

A Hawthorn premiership captain, Mitchell has won plaudits for his attacking gamestyle as coach since taking over from Alastair Clarkson before the 2022 season as he guides the Hawks through an extensive rebuild.