There’s a quiet confidence to Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell ahead of September.

The fourth-placed Hawks have never finished higher on the ladder under Mitchell, but they first face minor premier Fremantle, which is yet to lose at home in 2026.

Mitchell says certain styles and players are better suited to the pointy end of the season, and he believes the Hawks have the game to match it.

“I think all coaches have a level of understanding,” Mitchell said, promoting the Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign.

“That there are certain style of games and players that are more likely to work in season and there are some that are going stand up in the high pressure games

“Certainly, you can’t have your whole game built around finals intensity because that’s not the way the game is played most of the year.

“But the intensity of these games, generally, steps a little bit, so you want to make sure your game style is compatible with finals footy.

“That’s been one of the filters we’ve used in a lot of the decision-making over the past five years.

“We feel like the way we play stands up in these games. We’ll see.”

Hawthorn is one of Fremantle’s 12 Perth Stadium scalps after the Dockers broke the game open with a dazzling fourth quarter.

Mitchell is refreshing during the wildcard week off, stressing the importance of time with family ahead of a busy finals series.

But his initial view is that both teams have evolved and will be armed with different threats by Thursday week.

“We haven’t reviewed it again yet, we will over the next couple weeks of course but their best is very good,” he said.

“We played some pretty good footy that day, we just couldn’t do it for long enough.

“I think both teams have changed quite a bit, that’s probably three months ago … so we need to make sure we’re ready for what they bring and bringing some of our own threats to them is important.”

Mitchell’s first finals campaign ended in a heartbreaking semi-final defeat and his second included a strong run from eighth to the preliminary final.

These Hawks have slowly ticked off milestones, leaving just the final Saturday of the season and lifting the cup on their checklist.

“This time last year we finished eighth, got on the road pretty much straight away and won a couple of finals interstate, which we hadn’t been able to do,” Michell said.

“That was one of the things we put a feather in our cap about, being able to perform on the big stage.

“But we have confidence that our best is good enough, we just have to produce that when it really matters.”

A key difference in Hawthorn this final series is the fitness of dynamic midfielder Will Day.

Mitchell says no one is more excited to see the No 12 in the finals than Day himself.

“I am not as excited as him, I think,” he said with a laugh.

“He hasn’t got this far in a season … he’s been motoring along pretty well and I thought he played well against the Eagles.

“I’m so pleased he’s been able to get back into some form, and I’m looking forward to seeing him don the brown and gold in September for the first time.”

Mitchell is eager to take his kids to wildcard weekend as a football fan in Melbourne.

Through the partnership with DrinkWise, Mitchell hopes to help promote the passionate but safe atmosphere he loves sharing with them at the footy.

“I am really pleased to be back on board and return to the Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign,” he said.

“Extra week of finals this year with the wildcard round – we want to make sure that everyone doesn’t miss anything and has a great time.

“I think one of the great things about our sport is that everyone can go and feel safe, you can take your kids, sit in the outer and have a great time.

“We just want to make sure if you do choose to have a drink, do it responsibly with the respect of themselves and those around them.”