‘I hope it’s not a syndesmosis’: Mitchell praises Hawks mids, hopes Worpel won’t be out long

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has praised his midfield for finding a way to replace injured midfielder James Worpel.

But he admitted he has no idea if Worpel has a syndesmosis injury, and whether his would be a short or long-term recovery.

Cam Mackenzie of the Hawks.Credit: Getty Images

“All I know is that it is an ankle,” Mitchell said.

“I asked him if it was going to be one of those OK in a couple of days ones, or one of those six-weekers, and he said he would be OK tomorrow, but he was always going to say that.

“He could play next week or be out for a fair while – I just don’t know yet. I hope it is not a syndesmosis.”

Mitchell said assistant coach David Hale did an excellent job incorporating Cam Mackenzie into the midfield rotations and dealing with the changes made by the Swans as they tried to come back into the match.

“Worps has been our best performer of the pre-season, then he goes down and Cam Mackenzie went into the midfield and the mix held,” Mitchell said.

“I thought assistant coach David Hale did a really good job making sure the midfielders could keep performing well.”

Will Day’s three goals and 26 disposals got plenty of attention, but Mitchell was most impressed with his work helping his teammates during the last term.

“The thing I loved about Daysy was his last quarter. I don’t know if it looked good, statistically, but he was really important in some key moments,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell also sent is thoughts to the people in NSW and Queensland facing the start of Cyclone Alfred.

“I just saw a map of things up there and thoughts with those people going through that weather up there,” Mitchell said.

That’s all we have for you tonight everyone.

Thanks so much for joining us and we will have footy coverage across the weekend so please keep visiting our sport websites.

That was a big win for the Hawks.

Please have a lovely evening and bye for now.

Swans fans dressed as lizards greet the players as they run out.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has praised his midfield for finding a way to replace injured midfielder James Worpel.

But he admitted he has no idea if Worpel has a syndesmosis injury, and whether his would be a short or long-term recovery.

Cam Mackenzie of the Hawks.Credit: Getty Images

“All I know is that it is an ankle,” Mitchell said.

“I asked him if it was going to be one of those OK in a couple of days ones, or one of those six-weekers, and he said he would be OK tomorrow, but he was always going to say that.

“He could play next week or be out for a fair while – I just don’t know yet. I hope it is not a syndesmosis.”

Mitchell said assistant coach David Hale did an excellent job incorporating Cam Mackenzie into the midfield rotations and dealing with the changes made by the Swans as they tried to come back into the match.

“Worps has been our best performer of the pre-season, then he goes down and Cam Mackenzie went into the midfield and the mix held,” Mitchell said.

“I thought assistant coach David Hale did a really good job making sure the midfielders could keep performing well.”

Will Day’s three goals and 26 disposals got plenty of attention, but Mitchell was most impressed with his work helping his teammates during the last term.

“The thing I loved about Daysy was his last quarter. I don’t know if it looked good, statistically, but he was really important in some key moments,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell also sent is thoughts to the people in NSW and Queensland facing the start of Cyclone Alfred.

“I just saw a map of things up there and thoughts with those people going through that weather up there,” Mitchell said.

Sydney coach Dean Cox has lamented his side’s inability to create more chances for their forwards in their loss to the Hawks tonight.

“To get back into the match against a very good group and then let it slide the way we did was disappointing,” Cox said.

Chad Warner soars for a grab in trying conditions.Credit: AFL Photos

“It’s a little bit sour, but there is still a lot we need to improve on and we know that.”

Cox added that they didn’t get the ball forward enough, or turn their opportunities into attacking ones.

“We didn’t take our opportunities in the last quarter,” Cox said.

“We didn’t get enough inside 50s, we didn’t get enough supply to our forward line.”

Cox commended the work of Sam Wicks as a small defender. He negated Hawks small forward Nick Watson, keeping him to just four possessions while also creating some chances.

“I think Sam Wicks was unbelievable,” Cox said.

Both Fox and Seven have reported that Taylor Adams has a hamstring injury, which could keep him out for the near future.

Meanwhile, Hawks hard nut James Worpel is feared to have a syndesmosis injury, although how much time he could miss remains unclear. Still, it looks particularly unlikely that he’ll face old foe Essendon next Friday.

Hawthorn’s James Worpel.Credit: AFL Photos

We will see whether either coach has more to add on those injuries during their press conferences, which should be coming up shortly.

Both the Swans and Hawks played lined up for a guard of honour for Jake Lloyd in his 250th game.

Sam Mitchell is a bold coach. His decision to send James Sicily forward was exceptional, and helped deliver an impressive win.

Most importantly, the Hawks regained Will Day, who vied with Sicily as the most influential player afield. Lloyd Meek was excellent in the ruck and, overall, they had more contributors than the Swans, who were at their blazing best when Blakey was on the burst and Chad Warner was charging goal-ward.

Sam Mitchell and his Hawks had a night to remember at the SCG.Credit: AFL Photos

Tom Barrass improved as the match progressed, despite conceding goals to Joel Amartey. Errol Gulden’s left boot was not easily replaced. The Hawks just had a touch more composure. This also underscored the irrelevance of pre-season games, in which the Hawks were going through the motions.

Hawks skipper James Sicily spoke to Seven post game.

It’s never easy coming to the SCG and taking on the Swans, but you must be proud of the efforts of your boys tonight?

“We are. Swans have really got us a few times now in the last few years, so we weren’t happy with the way that we went about it in the pre-season games, so we were a bit on edge for this game. But it was really good, I think ... It’s hard to come up here and beat these teams. The grand final they played last year, but [I’m] really proud.”

James Sicily of the Hawks.Credit: AFL Photos

Will Day and three goals to half-time, 19 disposals, but how good is it to see him fit and firing? Unfortunately he’s sustained a number of injuries over the last couple of years that have kept him out of the side, so it must be good to see him raring to go in 2025?

“Everyone knows he’s got a high ceiling. He kicked three? That’s amazing. That sets the tone for us because when he’s doing stuff like that it makes the opposition react, because they have to put time into him, and you’ve got Jai [Newcombe] who can step up when that happens. That’s a great performance.”

What about your performance? You had some big inclusions in the off-season – we saw you go forward and kicked the sealer for your mob, essentially. How much freedom and versatility is that giving to play either end?

“It’s great, and it’s not just me – we’ve got Weds [Josh Weddle], Dimma [Blake Hardwick] who can change it up, so when the game’s on our terms, being able to change is a pretty good commodity to have, and hopefully we can keep doing it.”

How confident are you that this group can continue the momentum you saw [tonight]?

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We know what’s right for us, and what we value, and all that matters is what happens inside, and what we value we just keep sticking to that, and we know when we can get those things right, and we pay the price, we are hard to beat, so we will just keep chipping away.”

Hawks recruit Tom Barrass spoke to Fox Footy post game.

On the win:

“It was a great midfield contest, and that was where the game was won.

“[It was] lucky for us that it got a bit wet, just as they had the momentum, and it allowed us to wrestle it back.

Tom Barrass is presented with his jumper before playing his first game for Hawthorn by former Hawk David Polkinghorne.Credit: AFL Photos

On Sicily going forward:

“He’s such a gun. He’s a bit of an unconventional footballer, but he just gets the job done. He kicked a couple of shots real late. We love him down back, but we love him up forward when he does that.

On the defence coming together:

“It takes a little while for the backs to connect, but they have been really welcoming for me and JB (Josh Battle) to get down there and hopefully we keep coming together so Sis can push forward more.

On the move to Melbourne:

“I’m loving the move, I’m loving Melbourne as a city. My missus and kids are loving it too.”

The Hawks have opened their season with an impressive win over Sydney, with Will Day a match-winner in the first half and James Sicily a game-saver in the final term after his switch forward.

The Swans made it tough for the Hawks with four-straight goals in the third term, but they couldn’t keep up with the visitors, who powered on despite heavy the rain.

Sicily had a hand in multiple goals and took several strong marks right when they were needed most.

Jack Ginnivan of the Hawks competes with Isaac Heeney and Lewis Melican.Credit: AFL Photos

Swans onballer Taylor Adams has hurt his hamstring, which will be a concern for Dean Cox’s men, while James Worpel was subbed out with an ankle injury for the Hawks.