Unrestricted Free Agent Tom Mitchell [delisted]

[Rabish Binney]

Probably ends up as a depth player at Geelong on minimum wage.

And a smaller farm.

 

[MF]

Unfortunately for him, the game has gone past one-paced mids that can't rotate forward and don't have great disposal. Maybe he gets picked up by Essendon or West Coast for some leadership, but can't see any other takers

He doesn't have any leadership qualities unfortunately.

It's quite the effort to represent different 3 clubs and basically have none of their supporters give a shit what happens to you and whether you retire or not.

 

[Sheepey]

I'm surprised Collingwood stopped playing him before finals. He had some good games, and then dropped after the Hawks loss in rd 22, never to be seen again. I would have liked a player like him in the middle in the Brisbane final we lost. He's a finals experienced player.. shocked we played Roan Steele before Tom Mitchell.

I think he would be a decent pick up for a team like North or Saints. Get him for nothing and get the experience he gives.

We got Macrae for that role last year and want to give midfield time to our younger brigade. We won't be touching him

 

[Cold Sober]

Welcome to Essendon Tom Mitchell.

 

[The Worpedo]

Told to explore options, will he get picked and where?

 

[CrazyEighty8]

Classic “told to explore options” = we want you gone but won’t say it. Doubt he’s in Hawthorn’s long-term plans.

 

[janty]

Classic “told to explore options” = we want you gone but won’t say it. Doubt he’s in Hawthorn’s long-term plans.

 

[Spanish Sahara]

Classic “told to explore options” = we want you gone but won’t say it. Doubt he’s in Hawthorn’s long-term plans.

I highly doubt that as well

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Is he still under contract?

Doubt tnere will be much interest.

 

[Big_Birdy]

Eagles have been exploring these kind of options (I think in part to boost our WAFL performances).

Not sure if we would even have any interest.

 

[RAPPA]

The local Chinese takeaway shop is after some crabs. They might take him.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Worthless

 

[MarcMaverick]

I guess to complete the set, 2 years at the Crows, 2 years at the Eagles.

 

[LoBu]

Hawthorn Plan C?

 

[Lore]

Was delisted by Collingwood yesterday but would play on

 

[Alite]

If Tom wants to keep going, and is open to any role, any pay, anywhere, then surely this is exactly what the AFL had in mind when granting West Coast those extra “rookie” spots. And surely West Coast would want him. Players like Tom and Matthew Priddis, who lacked elite speed or standout athletic traits but still became highly decorated AFL players, have a wealth of knowledge to offer.

If Tom was somewhat insular as a player (and I’m not sure that’s fair, though it’s been suggested) due to his need to keep up with the evolving game, there’s every chance he could pivot into a teaching role, if that is what his agreed as his new role.

If no AFL club comes calling, I’d love to see him at Box Hill. If he thrives as a mentor, like Luke Breust

22

Luke Breust

Age

35

Ht

182cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.6

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

4.8

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.8

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

1.8

5star

or Gunston in 2025 before him, and rediscovers form (like Gunston) through teaching, then the mid-season draft might just beckon for the Hawks (depending on injury).

Geelong has shown what is possible when you don’t discard players with more to give, though Bazlenka is testing the Cats boundaries.

 

[Forward Press]

If Tom wants to keep going, and is open to any role, any pay, anywhere, then surely this is exactly what the AFL had in mind when granting West Coast those extra “rookie” spots. And surely West Coast would want him. Players like Tom and Matthew Priddis, who lacked elite speed or standout athletic traits but still became highly decorated AFL players, have a wealth of knowledge to offer.

If Tom was somewhat insular as a player (and I’m not sure that’s fair, though it’s been suggested) due to his need to keep up with the evolving game, there’s every chance he could pivot into a teaching role, if that is what his agreed as his new role.

If no AFL club comes calling, I’d love to see him at Box Hill. If he thrives as a mentor, like Luke Breust or Gunston in 2025 before him, and rediscovers form (like Gunston) through teaching, then the mid-season draft might just beckon for the Hawks (depending on injury).

Geelong has shown what is possible when you don’t discard players with more to give, though Bazlenka is testing the Cats boundaries.

On a minimal wage on our expanded rookie list with the understanding he'd mostly be playing WAFL, sure. I don't think he will necessarily make the Beagles worse and worth a shot perhaps on the rookie list as he's not taking up a main spot.

But the game is long past him, and he would be a net negative for our senior side if he was to actually play an extended run of senior footy. Transition football is the way to go, he is not capable of that at all.

Not that I think he's interested heading here anyway - and I don't blame him for not wanting to join us even if we were the only club to make enquiries.

 

[Cringle]

Crazy how quickly the game evolved in the last decade.

Wasn’t that long ago inside mid accumulators were all the rage - bonus points if they were tall.

Now you can only really carry one per team and even then they need to be elite in a couple areas.

 

[Millsie69]

Didn't he suffer a terrible leg injury when he was at the peak of his playing days?

Literally the preseason after he'd won the brownlow, he broke his leg.

 

[WanderingDude]

The local Chinese takeaway shop is after some crabs. They might take him.

His last premiership was 2 years ago without a 0. Tom has been very good. He played and won 2023. Many failed that year and now have twisted memories about it. And I like Chinese.

 

[Philth]

On a minimal wage on our expanded rookie list with the understanding he'd mostly be playing WAFL, sure. I don't think he will necessarily make the Beagles worse and worth a shot perhaps on the rookie list as he's not taking up a main spot.

But the game is long past him, and he would be a net negative for our senior side if he was to actually play an extended run of senior footy. Transition football is the way to go, he is not capable of that at all.

Not that I think he's interested heading here anyway - and I don't blame him for not wanting to join us even if we were the only club to make enquiries.

Mitchell said he will happily move to Perth and join WC if they want him.

 

[WanderingDude]

The pies recruited him from Hawthorns reserves. We got great value in 2023. In 24-25 injuries took their toll. The guy is a total professional. I hope he gets another go at AFL. He is great inside and knows his disposal limitations. Speed of the game is the issue.

 

[Philth]

The pies recruited him from Hawthorns reserves. We got great value in 2023. In 24-25 injuries took their toll. The guy is a total professional. I hope he gets another go at AFL. He is great inside and knows his disposal limitations. Speed of the game is the issue.

Eagles should give him a go.

He'd be an upgrade on Tim Kelly.

 

[Breretonisahood]

Hawthorn Plan C?

I’d consider him for cheap, short term midfield depth. There’s no guarantee that Day will play more than a few games next year, so an extra midfielder might come in handy.

 

[Forward Press]

Mitchell said he will happily move to Perth and join WC if they want him.

I mean that's great for him but would he be happy to play WAFL? Isn't he established in Melbourne with a young family?