Toast Welcome Tom Mitchell

[RUNVS]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

EDIT: If he wasn't a FS pick, where would he be selected?

I don't know if this is true or not but i heard somewhere that Mitchell could have gone top 3 in the draft if he wasn't already going to the Swans.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

I think it was when we were battling with GWS for him, GWS were offering him a guarantee to pick him up in one of their first 3 picks on a considerably large contract for a 17 yo in exchange for not choosing the father/son route through Sydney.

 

[liz]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

He is not in Trent Cotchin's league. Before injury I rated him about the same as Reece Conca, but he is not the same type of player.

Without getting caught up on how good a player he might become, are you able to give those of us who've never seen him play some idea of his style? We know he's smallish - under 180cm I think? - and it seems like he knows where to go to find the football/ But what else can you tell us about him? How quick is he? Is he a dodger / weaver or a barreller? Is he a handball craftsman? Or a Martin/Rich-style long bomber?

 

[swansfan51]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

I was actually hoping and intending to post some game footage of him this season but for obvious reasons that hasn't been possible. I would really like to watch him play at a higher standard to make a proper judgment, either in the u18s or at WAFL reserves level (making Claremont's seniors is a step beyond him at this point) but I'll do what I can.

A friend of mine who is a scout has watched a number of his school games, I have only seen him play for Claremont colts and his u16 highlights. He is a balanced midfielder, can win inside ball (often playing as a rover) but has decent->good outside ability. I find it hard to describe him - he doesn't have a standout attribute like Judd's explosiveness or Bartel's overhead marking. He's just... good. He is a very high possession winner - not receiver, he is capable of winning the ball and getting clearances. I definitely rate him better as an inside player than an outside player, I don't feel he has the elite disposal under pressure but he is both competent and confident of winning the ball out of the centre square repeatedly.

He has high work rate and tends to cover a lot of ground, not quite at the level of a Gaff or Wallis but high nonetheless. Doesn't tend to float around taking a lot of uncontested marks, most of his possessions are earned. Tom Liberatore is not a great comparison but he isn't horrible either. His kicking is above average but not elite, distance is not like a Rich or McKenzie but he is very tidy with both kick and handball. Left footed, strong in the clearances, has ball winning ability and is a strong tackler. Liberatore isn't a horrible comparison, although Mitchell is definitely more of a runner.

Doesn't have elite pace either, and is slightly below average height - as I said he does not have a standout physical ability but he has excellent game smarts and is a very strong all-round midfielder. The strongest aspects of his game are 1) ball winning 2) work-rate and 3) tackling. Absolutely worthy of a 1st round pick

 

[BarneyBent]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Well, the best players don't have a standout ability; they're damn good at everything. Hopefully Mitchell fits into that category!

 

[chinggis77]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Tom looks to be back playing footy again for Claremont colts in todays game.

Could yet see him play in the U18 champs.

Looks like he is being eased back off the bench. No stats yet halfway through the second term.

You can track his progress here: http://www.w*************.au/games/view/9034

 

[Riders of Rohan]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

That's great news Chinggis much appreciated.

 

[swansfan51]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

As I said a few weeks ago, is going to really battle to play a meaningful role in the u18 championships

 

[RUNVS]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Tom looks to be back playing footy again for Claremont colts in todays game.

Could yet see him play in the U18 champs.

Looks like he is being eased back off the bench. No stats yet halfway through the second term.

You can track his progress here: http://www.w*************.au/games/view/9034

Eased being the correct word seeing as he got 3 disposals for the entire game. Still great news that he is back.

 

[tofushark]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Saw this and thought it may be of interest

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/wafl/9602412/son-of-a-gun-mitchell-a-doubt-for-state-18s/

 

[MARK In TIME]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Saw this and thought it may be of interest

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/wafl/9602412/son-of-a-gun-mitchell-a-doubt-for-state-18s/

Thanks for the link.

Poor thing. Seems like he is permanently injured. He's stocks would be falling quickly at this rate, especially if he can't play in the state carnival. It means we won't have to fork out a first-rounded, but all up its hardly an ideal situation for him or the club.

 

[RUNVS]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Saw this and thought it may be of interest

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/wafl/9602412/son-of-a-gun-mitchell-a-doubt-for-state-18s/

Thanks for the article.

As for what is in the article i am not so happy. I am beginning to worry that Tom Mitchell might not have the body to make it in the AFL.

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Just remember though RUNVS, they thought that when Chris Judd started out. He slid to number 3 in the draft, because they had fears about his shoulders. If Tom Mitchell is good enough, he'll make it in the AFL and become a good player.

 

[BarneyBent]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Bit of a niggle, that's all. With any luck, he'll get on the park for a couple of games, be extremely underwhelming, and we won't have to use our first pick on him!

 

[SydneyPhilly]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

I'm not too crushed just yet. Yes, he has been out of the game, and yes he's been injured almost a year now, but you'd have to think that once he gets it under control (and he should). He'll be a star.

James Hird comes to mind as a player who was oft injured at junior level. Once he was placed solely in the hands of club physios etc he had a relatively injury free and awesome career, and I'm thinking Tom will follow the same pattern.

He's 17 and his body is still pulling itself together, don't get out the doom and gloom just yet guys.

 

[MrPresident]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

You can't judge a kid when he's so young. He's barely out of puberty, his body is still growing. Injuries happen at that age. It doesn't mean he won't play 300 games.

 

[RUNVS]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

You can't judge a kid when he's so young. He's barely out of puberty, his body is still growing. Injuries happen at that age. It doesn't mean he won't play 300 games.

I am not judging him as such. The problem is that i have got my hopes sky high that this kid is going to be a superstar and right now i am beginning to worry he will turn out like Ryan Fitzgerald who had all the talent in the world but who's body simply couldn't cope with the demands of AFL football.

 

[magic.merkin]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Only you can control your own expectations.

 

[Danair]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Saw this and thought it may be of interest

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/wafl/9602412/son-of-a-gun-mitchell-a-doubt-for-state-18s/

After reading this does anyone think there is a chance we won't have to use our 1st round pick on him?

It's becoming a bit concerning considering we reportedly had to offer him a large contract so he would not be lured by GWS.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Surely gws will ensure we have to use our first round on him, how many picks do they have before us? We've already invested too much into him to let gws outbid us

 

[bedford]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

I am not judging him as such. The problem is that i have got my hopes sky high that this kid is going to be a superstar and right now i am beginning to worry he will turn out like Ryan Fitzgerald who had all the talent in the world but who's body simply couldn't cope with the demands of AFL football.

Stop worrying , he's just starting and as someone else said Judd had these problems !

 

[mark121]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Surely gws will ensure we have to use our first round on him, how many picks do they have before us? We've already invested too much into him to let gws outbid us

If he isnt worth the contract we have already agreed to other teams wont bid at all because they would need to match the contract if they win his services.

 

[swansfan51]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

Surely gws will ensure we have to use our first round on him, how many picks do they have before us? We've already invested too much into him to let gws outbid us

GWS aren't allowed to enter the father/son bidding, as GC weren't last year. However we will still be using our first round pick, the quality drops off rapidly after the top 10-15 so teams will definitely bid

 

[CAS79]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

GWS aren't allowed to enter the father/son bidding, as GC weren't last year. However we will still be using our first round pick, the quality drops off rapidly after the top 10-15 so teams will definitely bid

No but the father son rule now insistst that a club can nominate they intend to use draft pick blah to pick the boy up. For us to secure him we must use the draft pick in the same round otherwise forfit our rights.

 

[swansfan51]

Re: Mitchell gets a headstart

No but the father son rule now insistst that a club can nominate they intend to use draft pick blah to pick the boy up. For us to secure him we must use the draft pick in the same round otherwise forfit our rights.

That's why I said we would be using our first round pick?