Hawthorn General Manager of Football Graham Wright says the club knew in the middle of 2016 that they were a realistic chance to swoop for Tom Mitchell
Mitchell was part of Sydney's losing Grand Final campaign against the Western Bulldogs that season, but opted not to re-sign with the Swans due to the embarrassment of midfield riches the club possessed at the time.
LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FORCED MITCHELL TO LEAVE SYDNEY
“He was out of contract all of 2016 and we probably knew that in the middle of the year that it seemed like he was a chance to be available,” Wright told SEN’s Time On.
“It probably started there and obviously all players have got decisions to make whether they stay at their football clubs, or leave, or whether it would be for opportunity, or money, or tenure, going home, whatever it might be.
“We obviously enquired and we were lucky enough that he chose to come and play hopefully the remainder of his career with us.”
Mitchell, 25, claimed his maiden Brownlow Medal after an outstanding 2018 season for the Hawks.
Listen to Graham Wright’s chat on SEN’s Time On with Sam McClure in the player below