Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has doubled down on his huge spray of Hawks defender Jack Scrimshaw during Sunday’s heavy loss to the Sydney Swans.
At quarter-time of the clash at the MCG, Mitchell headed straight to Scrimshaw and let him know in no uncertain terms his unhappiness with a dangerous kick from the Hawk that led directly to a Swans goal.
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“We conceded three goals really quickly, then we’re going for big, risky kicks when the instruction was the opposite,” Mitchell said at the time.
The third-year coach was then asked about the expletive-laden spray, which you can see in the video player above, on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 and stood by the coaching move.
“I wouldn’t take it back … he performed fantastically after that,” the four-time premiership Hawk said.
“This was a key moment and we gave them another scoring opportunity at a time where we didn’t need to do that.
“His response and performance under difficult circumstances, not just this game but across the season, has been first rate.”
Mitchell added this tough love style is in fact the way Scrimshaw wants to be coached.
“You have to pick your poison with your players, what’s going to help them, I look at Jack’s season, he’s enjoyed being coached like this,” Mitchell said.
“This is what the players have asked me to be like, you have to create an environment within the football club that handles robust discussion.”
After one quarter of Sunday’s clash with the high-flying Swans, the Hawks were already trailing by 25 points as the underdogs sought just their second win of 2024.
As the term ended, Mitchell was shown slamming his fist into a table in the coach’s box before heading down to talk to his players on the field.
The 41-year-old then made a beeline for Scrimshaw, who had produced a costly turnover right before quarter-time.
With 45 seconds left on the clock, having taken a mark on the wing, Scrimshaw sent a long kick towards Jack Ginnivan, who was well covered by Swan Ollie Florent.
Sydney ultimately won the ball back and moved it up the field, with Tom Papley taking a mark and kicking truly after the siren.
Richmond great Jack Riewoldt called Mitchell “a scary prospect” as his interaction with Scrimshaw was replayed.
The point was also noted by Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph, who tweeted: “Fire and brimstone from Sam Mitchell. Absolutely furious Jack Scrimshaw turned the ball over late to cost the Hawks. Went straight to him at the 1/4 time break to rip into him.”
Mitchell has since called Scrimshaw after he became aware the moment had hit the headlines.
“Once I saw it got to media coverage after the game I rang him,” he said.
“We had a discussion after the game and I think he appreciated me giving him a call.
“There’s an internal and an external communication line that you have to be careful of, when it becomes a public story it’s a different narrative to what we talk about within the four walls.”
Scrimshaw has played every game so far this season for the Hawks, who face the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.