Sam Mitchell in fresh setback as Hawthorn provides update on stricken AFL coach

Sam Mitchell won't be in attendance when the Hawks resume pre-season training on Wednesday, and the AFL coach is set to be eased back into his duties at the club when he is well enough to fly home to Australia. Hawthorn provided an update on the stricken coach on Monday, revealing he will return to Australia this week but won't be back in time for the resumption of training after the Christmas break.

Mitchell has been holidaying with his family in America, but felt ill just before Christmas and had to be hospitalised. He was diagnosed with a serious case of pneumonia and spent Christmas Day in hospital in New York.

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The Hawks revealed on Monday that the 41-year-old is still in New York recovering and will be eased back into the head-coaching role when he returns. The club's general manager of football Rob McCartney said the "phased return" was based on the advice from the medical team who had been treating Mitchell, as well as the Hawks' doctors.

"Sam's health has continued to improve following his discharge from hospital and he is now in the position to return with his family to Melbourne later this week," McCartney said in a statement. "Whilst this is a positive step, Sam will still need some more 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. 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."

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Hawthorn chief executive Ashley Klein had previously said the club had been in regular contact with the Mitchell family during the scary ordeal. "Importantly, Sam is improving and recovering well," Klein said in a statement.

"The club has been in regular contact with (Sam's wife) Lyndall, and we will obviously continue to provide support in any way we can. We would like to express our thanks to the NYU hospital and its medical team for their care and support."

Mitchell won four premierships with the Hawks as a player, and finished his 329-game playing career with West Coast in 2017. He took over as head coach of Hawthorn from Alastair Clarkson in 2022, and has led the Hawks to just 15 wins in 45 games in two seasons in charge. AFL fans have continued to send their well-wishes to the Hawthorn coach during the difficult time.

with AAP

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