Hawthorn star Will Day provides frank update after Sydney belting

Sam Mitchell was a ‘disappointed dad’ after Hawthorn’s latest belting and returning midfielder Will Day has delivered a frank update on where his team is at.

Will Day and his Hawks teammates look dejected after losing the round seven AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and Sydney Swans. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Returning star Will Day says Hawthorn’s “bad stuff is just way too poor” as the Hawks begin another week of soul searching following Sunday’s 76-point thrashing against Sydney.

The second-bottom Hawks entered the round 7 clash knowing exactly what to expect from the second-placed Swans but were powerless to stop an outside game that saw the Swans pile up 18 goals.

The 76-point margin was the third time this year Hawthorn has been beaten by at least 50 points, after copping eight such losses last year.

Having suffered through the club’s first 0-5 start since 1970, Hawthorn received some respite with a win over lowly North Melbourne in round 6 but Day and his teammates were left frustrated by Sunday’s showing.

Will Day gathers the ball. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“We know we are better than that,” he said.

“It is similar to the Gold Coast game the other week, we put out performances like that and we know we are so much better so it is disappointing.

“We can find positives out of the game, it is just fixing up the bad stuff. Our good stuff is really good but the bad stuff is just way too poor at the moment.”

Having won contested possessions and clearances, coach Sam Mitchell said his team put in effort against the Swans but were simply outclassed.

Will Day leaves the field on Saturday. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Day said the Hawks came prepared for the outside game led by Errol Gulden but were swamped.

“We showed some glimpses but it sort of sucks saying that every time we do lose,” he said.

“It would be nice to put together a consistent performance, which we just can’t at the minute.

“We sort of knew what went wrong. Sydney were exactly how we scouted them … it is annoying we knew what they were doing going into the game and it’s not like they did anything special.

“It is a credit to them, they have some awesome ball users and they are just so calm with the football, I think we need to take a leaf out of their book.

“Whenever anyone has got it in their back half they are just so composed and so confident and I think with us being a bit younger, we just don’t have that at the minute.”

Sam Mitchell turned into a ‘disappointed dad’. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

While Mitchell was visibly angry on the quarter-time break on Sunday and made a beeline to address a mistake with defender Jack Scrimshaw, Day said the coach was more like a “disappointed dad” post-match.

“We want to play for Sam. Everyone has bought in and when we dish up a performance like that we feel like we have let him down as well,” the midfielder said.

Hawthorn won seven games last year despite a 1-7 start but Day admitted his young side hadn’t progressed like they hoped.

The Hawks trudge off. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“Obviously after last year we built a lot of confidence, especially in the back end of the year,” he said.

“I guess we were hoping and expecting to keep going upwards but nothing in life is that easy. I think these games, when we look back when we are the side we want to be, they will be really good for us.”

The Sydney loss was Day’s first game of the season after a foot stress fracture sidelined him in January.

The 2023 best-and-fairest winner said he was “much better mentally” getting through rehab than his last long stint out, when he broke his ankle back in 2021.