Tom Mitchell (Australian footballer)

Tom Mitchell (born 31 May 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Sydney Swans from 2012 to 2016 and currently holds the record for the most disposals in an AFL game, which he set against the Collingwood Football Club in 2018. Mitchell won the league fairest and best award, the Brownlow Medal, in the 2018 season polling 28 votes.

Tom Mitchell
Mitchell playing for Hawthorn in August 2018
Personal information
Full name Tom Mitchell
Nickname(s) Titch
Date of birth (1993-05-31) 31 May 1993
Original team(s) Ashburton Redbacks JFC (Vic)/Hale School (PSA)/Claremont (WAFL)
Draft No. 21 (F/S), 2011 national draft
Debut Round 10, 2013, Sydney
vs. Essendon, at Sydney Cricket Ground
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Hawthorn
Number 3
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2012–2016 Sydney 065 (38)
2017– Hawthorn 063 (25)
Total 128 (63)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Personal life

Mitchell's father, Barry, was drafted from Northvale JFC in Mulgrave, Victoria by the Sydney Swans and won their best and fairest award, the Bob Skilton Medal in 1991. Barry played for Sydney, Carlton and Collingwood. Tom grew up in Melbourne's eastern suburbs and attended Carey Baptist Grammar School, before relocating to Perth at 15 where he completed his schooling at Hale School. He helped Hale to two victories in the Public Schools Association Alcock Cup competition.[2] Mitchell's younger sister, Chelsea, signed on to play for Hawthorn’s VFL Women’s side in 2018.[3]

AFL career

Sydney (2012–2016)

Mitchell was drafted to Sydney with pick 21 in the 2011 AFL draft under the father–son rule.[4] Mitchell experienced a number of injuries in 2012 and despite some good form in reserves games, was unable to break into the senior side that won the premiership.

Mitchell made his debut in round 10, 2013 against Essendon at the SCG. He received a 2013 AFL Rising Star nomination the following week for his round 11 performance against Adelaide.[5] During round 9 of the 2014 season, Mitchell played in the Swans reserves team and had a record 64 disposals (23 contested, 41 uncontested) and kicked four goals.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Mitchell requested a trade from Sydney[6] and was subsequently traded to Hawthorn in October.[7]

Hawthorn (2017–present)

In the 2017 season, Mitchell broke the VFL/AFL record for the most disposals in a home and away season in round 22 when he had his 749th possession, passing Wayne Richardson's mark set in 1971.[8] Following a record-breaking home and away season, Mitchell was named in the All-Australian team for the first time.[9] He was runner-up to Dustin Martin in the 2017 Brownlow Medal (Patrick Dangerfield polled more votes, but was ineligible due to suspension).[10] Mitchell won his first Peter Crimmins Medal in that season.[11]

On March 24, 2018, in round 1 of the 2018 season, Mitchell set the record for the most disposals in an VFL/AFL game of 54,[12] also becoming the first player to have 50 or more disposals in more than one game. Mitchell had 50 possessions in Hawthorn's round 15 loss to GWS, becoming the first player to have more than one 50+ disposal game in a season.[13] His 848 disposals in 2018 passed Matt Crouch's season record of 825, set in 2017.[14]

Mitchell won the 2018 Brownlow Medal, the Peter Crimmins Medal, Leigh Matthews Trophy[15] and the Lou Richards Medal. Mitchell became the first Hawthorn player to win the Leigh Matthews Trophy since Shane Crawford in 1999. On 11 January 2019, It was announced that Mitchell would miss the entire 2019 season after suffering a broken leg during a tackling drill at training.[16]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[17][18]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Significant statistics
† Led the league for the home-and-away season only
§ Led the league for the home-and-away season and after finals
± Won that season's Brownlow Medal
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2012Sydney6 0———————————————
2013Sydney6 14111713413627045660.20.39.18.417.52.84.22
2014Sydney6 622576812525340.30.49.410.519.92.84.40
2015Sydney6 19107212303515701240.50.411.215.927.13.76.512
2016Sydney6 2615132824437251011600.60.510.817.027.93.96.212
2017Hawthorn3 221010307480787†1171430.50.514.021.835.8§5.36.525
2018Hawthorn3 24137389459†848§1131520.50.316.219.1§35.3§4.76.328±
2019Hawthorn3 0———————————————
2020Hawthorn3 172117225742952750.10.110.115.125.23.14.410
Career 12863571553214636995237540.50.412.116.828.94.15.989

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References
  1. "Tom Mitchell". Hawthorn Football Club. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  2. https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/tom-mitchells-brownlow-path-began-in-wa-ng-b88971205z
  3. "A Mitchell family affair". Hawthorn Football Club. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  4. Cowley, Michael (11 October 2011). "In the name of the father: Mitchell to follow dad's footsteps at Swans". Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. "Mitchell in the running". Sydney Football Club. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  6. Bowen, Nick (10 October 2016). "Star Swan Tom Mitchell requests trade to Hawks". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. Laughton, Max (14 October 2016). "Hawthorn acquires Sydney Swans midfielder Tom Mitchell". Fox Sports (Australia). News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  8. Meldrum, Ethan (19 August 2017). "Tom Mitchell Absolutely Smashes An All-Time Record". Triple M. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  9. "Mitchell an All Australian". Hawthorn Football Club. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  10. McGowan, Mark (26 September 2017). "Dusty's late surge seals record-breaking win". Australian Football League.
  11. "Mitchell wins first PCM". Hawthorn Football Club. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  12. Naghten, Tom (24 March 2018). "Tom Mitchell collects record 54 disposals as Hawthorn handle Collingwood". Sporting News Media. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  13. "Season and Game Records (1965-2018): Most Disposals In A Game". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  14. "Season and Game Records (1965-2018): Most Disposals In A Season". AFL Tables. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  15. Staff Writers (30 August 2018). "Mitchell voted 2018 AFL Players' MVP". AFL Players. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  16. Laughton, Max (11 January 2019). "Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell likely to miss entire 2019 season with a broken leg". Fox Sports. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  17. "Tom Mitchell Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  18. "Tom Mitchell". afl.com.au. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
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