Hawthorn will ease coach Sam Mitchell back into his duties in a part-time capacity and he won’t be at the club when pre-season training resumes on Wednesday as he battles to recover from a serious illness which landed him in a New York hospital.
Mitchell was hospitalised for several days over the Christmas period with a severe bout of pneumonia and has continued his recovery overseas since being discharged.
The third-year coach will miss the restart of Hawthorn’s pre-season training on Wednesday and is expected to arrive back in Australia later in the week.
Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said Mitchell would make a “phased return” to his role to help him recover as quickly as possible.
“Sam’s health has continued to improve following his discharge from hospital and he is now in the position to return with his family to Melbourne later this week,” McCartney said.
“While this is a positive step, Sam will still need some more time to return to full fitness and health.
“Sam will initially have a phased return to his role as senior coach, spending time in our program early in the week while also continuing to have the rest that is required for him to return quickly to full health.”
McCartney said he was confident Mitchell’s partial absence from training would not affect the Hawks’ preparations for the season, praising his team of assistant coaches.
“Over the past two seasons we have built an experienced and skilled coaching group. I’m extremely confident that when Sam is not present in the program they will continue to prepare our group so we are ready to perform when the 2024 season starts,” he said.
“Our priority at the moment is ensuring that Sam recovers to full health as quickly as possible, and we are confident that this phased return will support this.”
A Hawthorn spokesperson said: “The club asks that the privacy of both Sam and his family be respected during this time”.