Sam Mitchell v Dane Swan

[Big Fresh]

I've seen this comparison come up a few times around the place. I think Mitchell's clearly better but there seems to be a lot of disagreement about it. Swan's individual honours appear much more impressive than Mitchell's (a Brownlow, Leigh Matthews Trophy, 5 AAs to Mitchell's 2), however rather than resolving the debate this has only prompted accusations that Swan is overrated and Mitchell is underrated. This has in turn led to Swan being sold short as an outside receiver who butchers the ball - these two are undoubtedly both guns. Which of these two stars of the 2001 superdraft do you think is/has been a better player?

 

[juss]

Mitchell is massively underrated, but I still think Swan has been better.

 

[Heaps of fun]

I voted Sam Mitchell but I think I have a bias towards creative and clean footy. What Swans work is often not pretty but still effective. His ability to kick a bag of goals keeps him in touch.

 

[La Vache]

I think over their careers Swan has the edge.

But over the past two seasons I would take Mitchell without a second thought. He has been phenomenal.

 

[Wild Bill]

Swan - but agree Mitchell is right up with the best mids in the comp.

Good Poll - these 2 are very close - I hope we don't end up with Swan by heaps or Mitchell easily rubbish.

 

[Big Fresh]

I think over their careers Swan has the edge.

But over the past two seasons I would take Mitchell without a second thought. He has been phenomenal.

Really? Mitchell led the league in clearances in his first full season in 2003 whereas Swan was a slower starter. They both entered into Brownlow contention in 2007 and have been peaking from around 2010 to now. Not sure how you can say Mitchell in recent years but Swan overall.

 

[La Vache]

Really? Mitchell led the league in clearances in his first full season in 2003 whereas Swan was a slower starter. They both entered into Brownlow contention in 2007 and have been peaking from around 2010 to now. Not sure how you can say Mitchell in recent years but Swan overall.

Mitch has always been quality, agreed. However I feel he got by early in his career by being a bit of a clearance, contested specialist. Swan from 2007-10 was a force of nature and comfortably the better player I reckon.

Since 2010 Mitch has made monumental improvements to his footy. I think sometimes people look at the numbers and feel like he is still the same accumulator now as before when in reality he is head and shoulders above the player he was as captain.

Anyway you would be splitting hairs on this one. I sometimes feel Swan is not acknowledged on BigFooty as one of the modern greats. He has been playing at an incredibly high level now for as long as Ablett has. Mitch has only elevated himself into the absolute top echelon (for arguments sake lets say Top 10 in the AFL) in '11, '12, '13.

Just my view.

 

[Big Fresh]

Mitch has always been quality, agreed. However I feel he got by early in his career by being a bit of a clearance, contested specialist. Swan from 2007-10 was a force of nature and comfortably the better player I reckon.

Since 2010 Mitch has made monumental improvements to his footy. I think sometimes people look at the numbers and feel like he is still the same accumulator now as before when in reality he is head and shoulders above the player he was as captain.

Anyway you would be splitting hairs on this one. I sometimes feel Swan is not acknowledged on BigFooty as one of the modern greats. He has been playing at an incredibly high level now for as long as Ablett has. Mitch has only elevated himself into the absolute top echelon (for arguments sake lets say Top 10 in the AFL) in '11, '12, '13.

Just my view.

All fair points.

 

[Gooroombat]

Mitchells disposal is far superier which puts him in front of Swan.

 

[demon21]

I think it is clearly Swan, dont get me wrong love Mitchell as a player but dont think he is the better player.

 

[TyHawk]

Bloody close call and a great poll. Gotta go with Mitchell because of his vision around contests and an elite user of the ball by both hand and foot..but close.

 

[HeHateMe]

Would it be safe to say Mitchell was the better player prier to 2007 and then again post 2011?
I mean were fighting over miller-meters here both have had great careers, but mikes top 50 just shows how underrated Mitch is.

2002 - Mitchell
2003 - Mitchell
2004 - Mitchell
2005 - Mitchell
2006 - Mitchell
2007 - Swan
2008 - Swan
2009 - Swan
2010 - Swan
2011 - Equal (maybe Swan just)
2012 - Mitchell
2013 - Mitchell

you could also say Swan has been a top 5 mid longer, but Mitchell has been a top 10 mid longer.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

From 2007-2010, It would be Swan but I wouldn't trade Mitchell for him

IMO Mitchell is the most underrated player in the league and has got better with age. 2011 to now he has been absolutely sublime

 

[The Bomb]

Swan hitting the scoreboard is where he really has Mitchell covered.
If Mitchell could have the same impact forward he would have been the better player, but it just isn't the case.

 

[HeHateMe]

Mitchell always plays behind the play so he can use his kicking to break lines and set up play forward of centre. with players like buddy and rough, other mids like Lewis and Burgoyne and smalls like Bruest, Rioli there has been no need for him to develop a goal kicking string to his guitar.

not every player can kick 30 goals a year, playing footy is about sacrificing for your team mates.

 

[yarran13]

Great poll. Mitchell for me. Don't know how he isn't talked up like the other champion mids in our game.

 

[eth-dog]

Swan for me

 

[Ambrosia]

Swans game breaking ability is what separates them for me

 

[Blueyboy74]

Mitchell hurts you more. Clearances and his kicking (especially on the left) & hands are more creative.

Will often open the game up with a 40m kick over the 45 degree. Swan is maybe just as creative in close but doesn't open the game up as much for me.

Both are brilliant footballers though. Not much in it.

 

[pacman]

Very good poll Mitchell uses the ball as well as anyone but Swan just finds a way and knows where the big sticks are.

Mitchells game has improved since he has held onto the ball longer and use his elusive abilities.

Mitchell is arguably our best player in the last 5 years which includes 2 flags I'll go Mitchell just.

 

[Schauermann]

Swan, because he can drink more beers while still gettin' 30+ and a goal or two...

 

[brisbane13]

as much as i hate Hawthorn, Id take sam Mitchel on 1 leg, as he is the engine room of hawthorn
swan, is a good player but of the 40 touches he gets 30 of them are pointless back & forth handballs and chip kicks

 

[Engimal]

One of the few polls where I can't bring myself to vote. Both great players.

 

[JCHolmes]

Ohhh i dunno who to vote for can I just say they are both champs and leave it at that. Actually I vote Sam, just as hard as Hodge but with silky skills, kind of like Daniel Kerr. Although Swan is dope too.

 

[forwardflanker]

Swan 3 or 4 seasons ago but it's close. For now it's Mitchell and it's not close. The way AFL has changed the last season does Swan no favours.