Mitchell backs Hawks for big AFL finish

Whatever the washup from the two AFL preliminary finals, Hawthorn veteran Sam Mitchell is confident next Saturday’s premiership decider will be a different proposition.

A day after Sydney walloped North Melbourne, Hawthorn had to hang on desperately to beat Port Adelaide by three points.

Sydney are the obvious favourites for next Saturday’s grand final, two years after winning the flag with an epic win over the Hawks.

Mitchell was as impressed as anyone by the Swans Friday night demolition of the Kangaroos.

“Sydney are damned good,” he said.

“Sydney had a very strong game, played really well and were probably able to coast a little bit late in the game, which might help their legs.

“They deserved the win and we were completely the opposite.

“I’m not sure any of that matters when it comes to next Saturday at 2.30.

“But we have a whole week to prepare and it’s going to be a different game.”

Mitchell starred in Saturday’s win with 26 possessions through the midfield.

But any joy he felt at making a third-straight grand final was tempered by the tight finish.

It was Hawthorn’s fourth-straight prelim, for three wins, and all have been decided by less than a goal.

“I didn’t enjoy that, to be honest,” Mitchell said of the nail-biting finish.

“They (Port) had their chances – they played the better footy late in the game and early.

“We were able to probably play a little bit better through the middle.

“To their credit, they kept coming.”

While Mitchell freely admits the Hawks must improve to beat Sydney, he backs their chances.

“I watched them (Sydney) last night thinking ‘man, they’re looking pretty sharp’,” he said.

“But when we play our best footy, we think we can win.

“We need to do that next week – play better than we did tonight, that’s for sure.”

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