Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has tried to pour cold water on an exclusive report that they had spent time training to cope with Fremantle’s famed “Wharfie Time” which cost them a victory earlier this year.

Seniors Hawks conceded they were overwhelmed by the unique stadium experience which drove the Dockers to a come-from-behind victory in round nine.

The Dockers kicked three quick-fire goals after “Wharfie Time” was enacted, which is when the intro to AC/DC’s Hells Bells and a heartbeat sound are pumped into Optus Stadium, lifting the crowd.

Hawthorn wingman Massimo D’Ambrosio told 7NEWS that: “It can get intimidating and when things are so loud it’s kind of hard to focus and concentrate on the game and what’s at stake, so we do little quirky things to adjust and prepare us for what’s to come.”

Speaking at his weekly pre-game press conference ahead of Hawthorn’s clash against North Melbourne this weekend, Mitchell addressed the report and said they had put no focus on it for months.

“For a start, I wouldn’t say we have prepared specifically for ‘Wharfie Time’. What we did do was after that game our psychologist, he does a good job of preparing us for mental skills of the game, and I think in every game whether it’s momentum challenges or crowd challenges or injury challenges — there are mental strains in any competitive sport. And being able to handle those is something you want to prepare for,” he said.

“So after the Fremantle game we talked about ‘How did it feel? What did it make you do? How did it make you react?’ And if that’s called working on it and preparing for it, then I guess we did that. But we haven’t used it since two days after the Fremantle game, which is now months ago, so I am not sure what Massimo is talking about.

“We would like to think that we prepare our players for the mental rigours of the game and we’ll get onto this week playing North in a couple of days’ time.”

Fremantle can lock up a top-two finish with a win against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on Friday night, giving them two home finals and in the box seat for a maiden premiership.