AFL 2025 opening round LIVE updates: Swans, Hawks open the AFL season amid footy’s fierce TV wars

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell is nervous about the first round but confident his side have improved and can rise even higher after their memorable run to the finals in 2024.

“We hope that we have improved, we know we have to,” Mitchell told Fox Footy.

“We finished sixth last year but that’s not what this club aims for.”

The Hawks are without injured key forwards Calshear Dear and Mitch Lewis.

“It’s not ideal to lose two key forwards at the same time but Mabs (Mabiol Chol) has competited really well and we’ve found a way to score goals,” Mitchell said.

But he added that key defender Sam Frost, as the sub, could come on and free up skipper James Sicily, Blake Hardwick or another defender to push forward.

“Frosty is a fantastic competitor, he might not be the player who makes the impact but he will free up someone else like a Sicily or someone else to go forward,” Mitchell said.

“When he is on the bench, he has a fantastic ability to lead others and Frosty will be able to do that for us.”