Analysis Tom Mitchell

[The King!]

Since Tom (as an inside mid) is (effectively) competing for a game against Bird, Parker & Kennedy we should focus on those 3. Kennedy is the prototype of the perfect inside mid and, despite the enormous attention he gets, continues to extract footballs like a monkey picking nuts. He's a strong overhead mark and a very smart user of the ball. He takes pressure off our other mids just by his very presence. One who performed in the GF. Category : Necessary personnel. Bird is a talented 2 way player. Not only does he normally shut down an opposition playmaker but his 20+ possessions/game and offensive stats suggest he makes his opponent pay. He (arguably) cost Shiel 14 possessions (half his average) on the weekend while getting 22 of his own. A positive balance for the Swans of 38 possessions alone. One who performed in the GF Category : Necessary personnel. Parker is the toughest nut going around. Throws his weight around inside but can also be very damaging going forward with an overhead mark beyond his height and an uncanny ability to kick superhumanly difficult goals. Didn't perform to expectations in the GF but did win the club's B&F. Category : Necessary personnel.

So essentially, like everyone else has argued, Mitchell would smash the midfield in any other team BUT, unless there's an injury, suspension or (unlikely) drop in form of one of these three (all not yet reached peak output as defined by average Brownlow age) then he's going to have to find another role or continue to dominate the NEAFL. Two or three years down the track things may have changed but, for the good of the Swans, we have a spare inside Mid capable of performing at the intense level that our high stoppage game requires when and if he is needed. IMO we need to have that depth to remain at our most beast-like competitiveness. In the absence of injury, drop of form or suspension he could relieve any of those players either to freshen them for finals or simply to make sure that he stays in top form himself. I think it's not unreasonable to expect to see Tom play 4 or 5 inside mid games this year and however many games he can get by increasing his flexibility to play other positions. Either that or he could pull the pin and walk but I think that would send a poor message about his endeavour.

Swans are lucky JPK does not worry about sending poor messages about his endeavour then

 

[Lakeside Swan]

A poster called Matt80 on another Swans supporters website has, in my opinion, come up with the most plausible reason why Tom Mitchell is not being selected.

He believes that Longmire will never play Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell in the same team. He labels those four players slower, inside midfield extractors. He states continually that Longmire will only ever pick a maximum of three slower, inside midfield extractors. The three incumbents at the moment are Parker, Kennedy and Bird.

He believes that the only way Mitchell will be selected is if one of Parker, Kennedy and Bird are out of the team.

The theory has held up for most of last year and the 2015 season thus far. Mitchell did play two senior games at the end of 2014 when Kennedy and Bird were out with injury. When Kennedy and Bird were back for the finals, Mitchell was omitted despite his good performances in those two senior games.

I would monitor the theory and see if it holds up for the rest of season 2015.

True, this is probably the case. If it is, then why didn't we trade Mitchell last year when we had the opportunity? I can't imagine any of those three getting demoted or traded and they're too young to retire. We have four gun inside mids but Longmires stance is that only three will ever play (barring the occasional tight match). the whole situation seems illogical to me.

 

[swansfan51]

MIDFIELD RANKINGS - 2014

Key inside midfield stats - combined contested possessions, clearances and tackles per minute
1) Josh Kennedy
2) Luke Parker
3) Tom Mitchell
4) Daniel Hannebery
5) Craig Bird
6) Kieren Jack
7) Jarrad McVeigh

Effective disposal percentage
1) Jarrad McVeigh 73%
2) Tom Mitchell 70.7%
3) Daniel Hannebery 70.6%
4) Craig Bird 69.2%
5) Luke Parker 68.7%
6 + 7) Kieren Jack and Josh Kennedy 64.7%

Outside midfield workrate - averaged inside 50s, rebound 50s, marks ranking
1) Mitchell
2) Parker
3) Jack
4) McVeigh
5 + 6) Kennedy and Hannebery
7) Bird

Needs to perform better.

 

[Dan87]

It's like the only thing that matters is his stats columns.

 

[BruceFromBalnarring]

I think Mitchell warrants a game ahead of Towers and McGlynn.

 

[Superstar swan]

The worst part about the situation is that you know he is gonna leave at some stage if he doesnt start getting games and you know it will hurt us.

He will be a top 10 mid at some stage..i just hope it is in the red and white

 

[swansfan51]

It's like the only thing that matters is his objective demonstrated performance in key areas relative to his competition.

Exactly.

 

[MarkP]

The worst part about the situation is that you know he is gonna leave at some stage if he doesnt start getting games and you know it will hurt us.

He will be a top 10 mid at some stage..i just hope it is in the red and white

That is the crux of the matter along with the mantra that is constantly repeated that you get a game if you earn a game and if you perform you are not dropped.

 

[Dan87]

Exactly.

Whether you like it or not there's a lot more that determines a players influence than stats.

But I suppose looking at someone that is renowned for accumulation and ticks stats and thinking Horse/ the selection committee are blind and have beef makes more sense for some.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I think Mitchell warrants a game ahead of Towers and McGlynn.

Bangs head against wall again...

McGlynn is our small forward/mid...and Towers is the 3rd tall at HF. Do tell how Mitchell is going in those potions (and please don't say move half the team to accommodate Tom)

 

[MarkP]

Bangs head against wall again...

McGlynn is our small forward/mid...and Towers is the 3rd tall at HF. Do tell how Mitchell is going in those potions (and please don't say move half the team to accommodate Tom)

What? Like he played for whole of the 2013 season with a lot of success? That position? The very positions he has played the vast majority of his senior footy in.

He was going perfectly fine in those positions. But don't worry I will bang my head against the wall as well in solidarity.

Don't really care either way any more and this is boring.

He has the credentials and form and everything else required to play seniors. Horse persisted with a stupid 4 tall set up last year when he had others options and blind Freddy could tell it only really worked due to the brilliance of the team as a whole but this year is quite happy to change it up so he and the selection committee are not some deity but a malleable bunch (that are too stubborn in my opinion) but again who cares.

Fact is Mitchell is the red haired kid. It is all good.

As I said when you and Glenn laughed at him and his supporters after a tweet that said he had a bad kick...A SINGLE BAD KICK FFS....in the magoos at least be consistent in your selection criteria across all players.

 

[The King!]

who cares about the stats

he is talented, play him

OTHERWISE if what you all say which is valid re structure is why he cannot play and is unlikely to crack the team then TRADE HIM he is worth a fair bit elsewhere

we have had chances to move him

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What? Like he played for whole of the 2013 season with a lot of success? That position? The very positions he has played the vast majority of his senior footy in.

He was going perfectly fine in those positions. But don't worry I will bang my head against the wall as well in solidarity.

Don't really care either way any more and this is boring.

He has the credentials and form and everything else required to play seniors. Horse persisted with a stupid 4 tall set up last year when he had others options and blind Freddy could tell it only really worked due to the brilliance of the team as a whole but this year is quite happy to change it up so he and the selection committee are not some deity but a malleable bunch (that are too stubborn in my opinion) but again who cares.

Fact is Mitchell is the red haired kid. It is all good.

As I said when you and Glenn laughed at him and his supporters after a tweet that said he had a bad kick...A SINGLE BAD KICK FFS....in the magoos at least be consistent in your selection criteria across all players.

We have replaced him with Parker who is better, a bigger body and has the ability forward of the centre and more versatile. Tom needs to take some ownership, play in the NEAFL but show other facets. Showing you can get the ball 50 times isn't showing Longmire anything new. Going forward and kicking 3-4 goals is. Now I know what I would be doing if I were Tom and it wouldn't be getting 50 disposals. This is what Horse forced him to do in the pre season, show a bit of diversity. We are not picking a one position midfielder when we have JPK as the rover. It won't work.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

who cares about the stats

he is talented, play him

OTHERWISE if what you all say which is valid re structure is why he cannot play and is unlikely to crack the team then TRADE HIM he is worth a fair bit elsewhere

we have had chances to move him

We arent going to play him but other clubs are not going to get him

 

[BruceFromBalnarring]

Bangs head against wall again...

McGlynn is our small forward/mid...and Towers is the 3rd tall at HF. Do tell how Mitchell is going in those potions (and please don't say move half the team to accommodate Tom)

Towers has taken 4 marks for the season. I think Mitchell can adequately improve on that. He's laid 4 tackles for the season. I think Mitchell can improve on that. He's kicked 2 goals. I doubt Mitchell would be worse than that. And he's had 32 total disposals. I think Mitchell can improve on that.

I fail to see your point about McGlynn. It's like for like. And I like Mitchell better in the role.

 

[The King!]

We have replaced him with Parker who is better, a bigger body and has the ability forward of the centre and more versatile. Tom needs to take some ownership, play in the NEAFL but show other facets. Showing you can get the ball 50 times isn't showing Longmire anything new. Going forward and kicking 3-4 goals is. Now I know what I would be doing if I were Tom and it wouldn't be getting 50 disposals. This is what Horse forced him to do in the pre season, show a bit of diversity. We are not picking a one position midfielder when we have JPK as the rover. It won't work.

Mitchell could easily eclipse Parker.

 

[The King!]

We aren't going to play him but other clubs are not going to get him

thats just stupid, we eventually get less for him or get nothing.

#freetom

 

[The King!]

I suggest we rename the thread for people who want to discuss tom mitchell or think he should be in the side

then the same people who have made their point about why he isnt playing can avoid it LukeParkerno1 we know what you think for instance, its on every page

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Mitchell could easily eclipse Parker.

Um no, nice try.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

thats just stupid, we eventually get less for him or get nothing.

#freetom

Im not surprised i made the call before the preseason even started Mitchell wont play a senior game aside from injuries.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Towers has taken 4 marks for the season. I think Mitchell can adequately improve on that. He's laid 4 tackles for the season. I think Mitchell can improve on that. He's kicked 2 goals. I doubt Mitchell would be worse than that. And he's had 32 total disposals. I think Mitchell can improve on that.

I fail to see your point about McGlynn. It's like for like. And I like Mitchell better in the role.

Ideally Towers wouldn't be in the side, but last week he was the sub and he actually suits that position. We have our best 21 basically. It is just a question who is the sub, Towers actually suits that role as he can play a few roles. That isn't to say he won't have a few games in the NEAFL this year.

McGlynn is much better forward, he isn't a like for like.

 

[The King!]

Um no, nice try.

Parker is pretty average with his disposal

he is a gun, but Mitchells first 20 games are better than Parkers

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Parker is pretty average with his disposal

he is a gun, but Mitchells first 20 games are better than Parkers

Parker is the prototype of the new midfielder. Tall midfielder, enough speed but not ultra quick. Disposal is fine, at least he doesn't float his disposals too much. Disposal is something that will get better.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

I wonder if there was a similar thread on Hawthorn board relating to JPK?

 

[Dan87]

Parker is elite over head by position. And an above average finisher in the forward half from ground ball contests is my appraisal.

Mitchell from last watching was limited over head by position and limited in his ability to finish in the forward half from a contest.

Probably the reason his +0.2 clearances and +1.3 possessions +0.8 clearances don't hold any sway when Longmire puts Parker as second MID every Thursday afternoon.