Winless Hawks could use 'wake-up call': Dunstall

Hawthorn's players have been warned to expect a tough week on the training track. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall believes there is still room in the AFL for a training-ground "wake-up call" as coach Sam Mitchell goes old-school in his bid to end the Hawks' winless start to the season.

Mitchell warned his troops they faced a torrid week on the track as he questioned their work ethic and physicality after a 53-point thumping from Gold Coast on Saturday night.

Hawthorn's fifth-straight loss followed an encouraging effort against defending premiers Collingwood in round four.

But Mitchell conceded the Suns defeat was "as bad as we've played in a long time" and said he would ramp up the intensity at training during an extended break this week.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
Head coach Sam Mitchell has vowed to up the intensity as the Hawks look for a first AFL win of 2024.

"If we lose one, get a corkie or something like that, we probably have to accept that," Mitchell said post-match.

"Because we can't play with the physicality we did tonight and expect to be competitive."

Fellow four-time premiership Hawk Dunstall backed Mitchell's plan to force a response out of his underperforming players leading into the clash with fellow battlers North Melbourne on Sunday.

"I suspect it doesn't happen very often these days," said Dunstall, who will officially be elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame in June.

"They have such a demanding schedule and you need your best players out on the track all the time, so you can't afford them being injured at training.

"But every now and then a wake-up call doesn't hurt, I don't think."

Now an expert commentator on Fox Footy, Dunstall was working on the Port Adelaide-Fremantle match at the same time as Hawthorn's horror show on the Gold Coast was unfolding.

Jason Dunstall.
A "wake-up call" could benefit struggling Hawthorn, Jason Dunstall says.

"I'd normally go home and watch it but when I saw the score I thought, 'That's a bit depressing, I might not watch this one'," he said.

Hawthorn have not won a finals match since their golden era under Alastair Clarkson ended with the 2015 premiership.

They look likely to miss the finals for a sixth consecutive season as the rebuild continues under Clarkson's successor Mitchell, now in his third year at the helm.

"We all know what they're trying to do and the direction they're heading, but it's hard when you're down the bottom to lift yourself up now," Dunstall said.

"Clubs have spoken about priority picks for years, but an extra pick in the draft doesn't turn things around.

"It's a long process and it takes a lot of work.

"It could be a year, it could be three years, it could be five years. You just don't know."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store