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Crawford: Tassie should target Mitchell as inaugural coach
SEN • March 26th, 2026 11:09 am
Tasmania should target Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell as their inaugural coach, according to Shane Crawford.
With the Devils set to enter the competition in 2028, the Hawks great thinks that the Devils should try to lure Mitchell, who comes out of contract at the end of 2027.
Crawford put forth his reasoning, with the Hawthorn coach already showing an ability to coach young players through a rebuild into finals contention, which is something Tassie will be hoping to emulate.
He put forward Mitchell as his pick when prompted by Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast.
Lyon: “Who would you have coach Tasmania?”
Watson: “Who would you go after?”
Crawford: “This might sound a little controversial, but I'd go after Sam Mitchell.
“In 2027, he’s out of contract. We know he can coach, we know he's good with younger kids.
“He spent a lot of time in Tasmania playing for the Hawks. Why wouldn’t you (go after him)?
“If they're interviewing players to come, surely they're interviewing all the current-day coaches.”
Watson: “When's he out of contract there at Hawthorn?”
Crawford: “2027, and when does Tasmania come in?”
Lyon: “2028, Shane.”
Crawford: “Oh, jackpot baby!”
Lyon: “Well, Hawthorn couldn't whinge about it if they approached him because they have been known to approach captains of other clubs.”
