AFL

'False sense of security': Hawthorn coach warns players

Mar 18, 2026

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell is warning his players against underestimating an injury-hit Sydney. -AAP Image

Hawthorn's players have been warned not to be lulled into a false sense of security about meeting an injury-hit Sydney in their highly anticipated clash.

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The Swans have lost star duo Errol Gulden, who is sidelined four months after dislocating a shoulder, and Isaac Heeney, ruled out of Thursday night's MCG clash because of a hamstring strain.

But Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell says his players only have to cast their minds back a fortnight when beaten by a sub-strength GWS for a reminder about underestimating opponents.

"I just said to the boys: ''Don't get lulled into the false sense of security that maybe Gulden is out, maybe Heeney is out'," Mitchell told reporters on Wednesday

"We have heard this song before and it didn't end too well for us.

"We only need to look back a couple of weeks to the GWS game and a little bit similar with perhaps a couple of their best players not playing and us learning a bit of a lesson."

The Swans top the ladder after wins over Carlton by 63 points and reigning premiers Brisbane by 44 points.

The sixth-placed Hawks rebounded from their opening-round loss to the Giants to thrash struggling Essendon by 62 points last Friday night.

Mitchell again fielded questions about Dylan Moore and Connor Macdonald after US police released bodycam footage of the arrests of the duo in Arizona in November.

Bodycam footage documenting the moment Hawthorn players Dylan Moore and Connor Macdonald were arrested by US police has emerged. Watch: https://t.co/UWPh2UzRlU pic.twitter.com/SK5e8vFblKâ€” 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 17, 2026

The arrests only came to public light last week. The duo were charged with trespassing after climbing a scissor lift.

Police documents state Moore was allegedly found with a bag of a crystalline substance and a rolled-up $100 note, but a drug paraphernalia charge against him was dismissed.

"The vision itself is new to us," Mitchell said.

"But those two boys have taken responsibility for their behaviours, which they were not proud of.

"My understanding is most of the legal proceedings is completed ... so I think they're reasonably minor, what is to come.

"I don't think it will be affecting their form or anything to do with what we're going about on a weekly basis."

Moore's next US court date is in July, with Macdonald's the following month.