One of the AFL's most exciting teams has seen their head coach sign on for more, with Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell set to stay with the team until 2027.
Mitchell was already contracted through the end of next season, but he has signed for an additional two years with the team, following the resounding success of this year.
Having been at the helm of the club since 2022 following the fallout with controversial former coach Alistair Clarkson, Mitchell has transformed Hawthorn into a genuine future contender, and has now been rewarded for his efforts.
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Sam Mitchell extends as Hawthorn coach
2024 did not start as a promising campaign for Hawthorn, losing their first five games, but the team rebounded in a massive way, going all the way to a semi-final which they lost by just three points to Port Adelaide.
Mitchell has also been at the heart of the 'Hok Ball' movement, a red-hot offence that took the AFL by storm over the season.
"The influence that Sam has had during his first three seasons as senior coach has been quite significant and we're incredibly excited about the direction of our club with him at the helm," Hawks CEO Ash Klein said in a statement.
"Having seen the growth and development across our entire football program under the tutelage of Sam, there is no better person suited to lead us as senior coach into 2025 and beyond.
"Sam's innate ability to teach, motivate and inspire are all key aspects of the special culture that has been established under his leadership, where our players are supported to realise their potential.
"While Sam's tactical nous and forward-thinking nature has led to the development of one of the league's most dangerous bands of football.
"After returning to September and securing our first finals win since 2015, as a club, we remain committed to continuing on the next phase of the journey we set out on when Sam was first appointed three seasons ago."
Hawthorn managed a seventh-placed finish in 2024, and after a massive qualifying-final win over the Bulldogs, they were downed by Port Adelaide by just three points in the semi-final.
