Hawthorn ball-magnet Tom Mitchell says a lack of opportunity, and the desire to return to Victoria, were the factors behind his decision to leave Sydney.
Mitchell departed the Swans at the end of the 2016 season after playing 65 games in five seasons for the red and white.
Since departing the harbour city, the 25-year-old has flourished at the Hawks, winning his first Brownlow Medal after a prolific 2018 campaign.
“It was during the 2016 season and I obviously loved my time at the Swans and we had a pretty strong campaign that year, just losing the Grand Final to the Western Bulldogs,” Mitchell told SEN Breakfast.
“I remember throughout the year I was very invested with the club and some of my mates are there and still are there, so I really wanted to win that premiership.
“I just had a funny feeling during the year that I lacked opportunity... I was either playing in the reserves, and the games I was in the seniors I’d come off the bench every quarter or play low game time.
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“I had a little bit more to offer - fortunately enough an offer came from Hawthorn to come and play a role in the midfield.
“I’d always wanted to come back to Melbourne eventually anyway so it felt like the right fit at the time.”
Listen to Tom Mitchell’s chat on SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson in the player below