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Sam Mitchell - 300 Games

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Sorry Mitchell has always been better.

Hodge has 2 best and fairests, and 3xAA selections in years which Mitchell wasnt selected.

Mitchells consistency (which is extrodinary) puts him ahead of Hodge. However both at their best, Hodges best I'd have slightly ahead.















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Mitchell's peak has never been as high as Ablett and Judd's were but Mitchell's been at his peak for far longer than both (Judd and Ablett early and late bloomers respectively).

Mitchell's career Brownlow votes illustrate this very nicely. Almost always polls very well but so often has only just fallen short to those other 2 as well other players who come along and have a really great season before dropping back into the pack. Not to mention never quite winning the Norm Smith medal despite being among the bests in several GFs.

He's gained a bit of a nasty reputation particularly in the last few years - not unjustified at times - for sledging and dirty acts. What is often overlooked is that he gets way more than he gives in this regard. Targeted for hits behind play most weeks and often the victim of illegal tagging tactics which to his credit he often rises above to beat through his own great performances.

If you consider the criticisms of him as a junior trying to get drafted it's easy to see how he can be perceived to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder at times. Particularly given he has arguably been overlooked for many individual awards (AA spots prior to the last few years a clear oversight) in favour of players who aren't as good but have qualities which make them appealing to the media who hype them up.

He's a player that has not been blessed with any physical/athletic qualities, or with very much natural talent outside of an unreal work ethic and self-motivation. Everything about his game can be credited to the work he's put in to training to refine his skills. People say "you get what you deserve". If what you deserve is based on how hard you work then Sam Mitchell has plenty more coming his way.

Congratulations Sam on your 300th game! May there be many more to come!
 

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Hodge has 2 best and fairests, and 3xAA selections in years which Mitchell wasnt selected.

Mitchells consistency (which is extrodinary) puts him ahead of Hodge. However both at their best, Hodges best I'd have slightly ahead.
Mitchell was a very good chance at winning our B&F in 2005 if he didn't miss the last 7 rounds with injury, 2005 and 2010 are the only years Hodge was better than Mitchell between 2004-2016. Come on we all know Mitchell has been robbed AA time and time again.


Mitchell has a very solid chance by the end of the season to claim the most Brownlow votes and clearances of all time
 
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Are there any further points of form-related discussion involving the team that I support (that you don't), based mainly on football that was played before you reached puberty that you would like to educate me on?

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I said we could agree to disagree, but you didn't want to.
 
Mitchell was a very good chance at winning our B&F in 2005 if he didn't miss the last 7 rounds with injury, 2005 and 2010 are the only years Hodge was better than Mitchell between 2004-2016. Come on we all know Mitchell has been robbed AA time and time again.


Mitchell has a very solid chance by the end of the season to claim the most Brownlow votes and clearances of all time
Hodge was better in 2008, and probably in 2007 as well. There have also been other years in which Mitchell might have only just edged him out.

I rate Mitchell a better player than Hodge. However to say "Mitchell has always been better" is too simplistic. Mitchell is an ultra consistent workhorse, Hodge is more of an impact player. Hodge has had periods of injury and more down years, Mitchell's best and worst are closer together.

In comparing them, Id compare them to Selwood and Bartel. Selwood has been the better player week out, but Bartels best when he produces is arguably better and he has delivered it at important times. It would be wrong to say "Selwood has always been better"



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Mitchell's peak has never been as high as Ablett and Judd's were but Mitchell's been at his peak for far longer than both (Judd and Ablett early and late bloomers respectively).

Mitchell's career Brownlow votes illustrate this very nicely. Almost always polls very well but so often has only just fallen short to those other 2 as well other players who come along and have a really great season before dropping back into the pack. Not to mention never quite winning the Norm Smith medal despite being among the bests in several GFs.

He's gained a bit of a nasty reputation particularly in the last few years - not unjustified at times - for sledging and dirty acts. What is often overlooked is that he gets way more than he gives in this regard. Targeted for hits behind play most weeks and often the victim of illegal tagging tactics which to his credit he often rises above to beat through his own great performances.


If you consider the criticisms of him as a junior trying to get drafted it's easy to see how he can be perceived to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder at times. Particularly given he has arguably been overlooked for many individual awards (AA spots prior to the last few years a clear oversight) in favour of players who aren't as good but have qualities which make them appealing to the media who hype them up.

He's a player that has not been blessed with any physical/athletic qualities, or with very much natural talent outside of an unreal work ethic and self-motivation. Everything about his game can be credited to the work he's put in to training to refine his skills. People say "you get what you deserve". If what you deserve is based on how hard you work then Sam Mitchell has plenty more coming his way.

Congratulations Sam on your 300th game! May there be many more to come!

Never ever whinges about it either. Cops the hit, gets up and keeps moving. Doesn't carry on with the pushing and shoving to show off their bravado like some other players. People can say what they want but there aren't many players who are a tougher campaigners in the football world than Mitchell.

Mitchell just plays football. Not interested in boxing or mouthing off an ump asking for some protection. If Mitchell gets targeted he plays football. If he doesn't he plays football.

Gives it as good as he gets. Champion.
 

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Hodge was better in 2008, and probably in 2007 as well. There have also been other years in which Mitchell might have only just edged him out.

I rate Mitchell a better player than Hodge. However to say "Mitchell has always been better" is too simplistic. Mitchell is an ultra consistent workhorse, Hodge is more of an impact player. Hodge has had periods of injury and more down years, Mitchell's best and worst are closer together.

In comparing them, Id compare them to Selwood and Bartel. Selwood has been the better player week out, but Bartels best when he produces is arguably better and he has delivered it at important times. It would be wrong to say "Selwood has always been better"

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You are both right in a sense. Hodge was definately better in 2005 and 2010. I would have Hodge and Mitchell about 50/50 in 2008 - Mitchell better early (to round 17) and Hodge better late (when moved back).

2007 Mitchell was definately better - in fact he was equal third or something in the Brownlow.

Every other season from 2003 Mitchell has been better.

You are right also that Hodge at his best is the absolutely the equal of Mitchell. The difference is, that Mitchell is at that level pretty much every single week, whereas Hodge is at that level 5-10 times a year on average (bar the odd year mentioned above where he puts it together for the whole season)
 
Will do. I must have it back to front - had him speak to a group of us two months back.
My favourite version told by Mitchell himself back around 2010 was that he was a natural left footer but as a young junior player his coach at the time didn't realise that and would constantly show him how to kick on his right foot. Sam was too intimidated to inform him that he was actually left footed so his early development had him learn on his non-preferred foot and so when it came time to develop a left foot it not unexpectedely came to him quite naturally.
 

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Best player I've seen at Hawthorn by quite a bit although finally he didn't reach his best until he was mid to late twenties. Can kick either foot on a dime and has awareness like no other I've seen. Touchwood he should have at least one more season left as well. Haven't been to the footy much this year at all but I will make the effort to go on Sunday as he has been my favourite player for a long time
 
My favourite version told by Mitchell himself back around 2010 was that he was a natural left footer but as a young junior player his coach at the time didn't realise that and would constantly show him how to kick on his right foot. Sam was too intimidated to inform him that he was actually left footed so his early development had him learn on his non-preferred foot and so when it came time to develop a left foot it not unexpectedely came to him quite naturally.

That just jolted my memory. He told us the same story. Cheers.
 
Just to underline Mitchell's remarkable consistency....

Since Mitchell collected 40 disposals for the first time way back in early 2009 against West Coast, he has had less than 20 touches just 7 times, including games where he has left the field injured early in the game. That is 154 of the last 161 games he has had 20+ disposals, including hard tags, injuries and everything else.

Perhaps even more remarkable, he has had 30+ disposals a staggering 112 times! (#2 of all time). To put that into perspective, Nathan Buckley was perhaps the most consistent champion before Mitchell and he is top 15 all time for 30+ disposal games. He managed it 68 times - just over half.
 

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Sam Mitchell - 300 Games

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