Retiring Mitchell’s most significant “crossroad moment”

Retiring Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell admits there were some crossroad moments in his AFL career.

The former Sydney, Hawthorn and Collingwood midfielder has called time on his playing days after 207 games, his Brownlow, three best and fairests, two All-Australians and a premiership.

When reflecting on his time in the AFL system, Mitchell spoke of a major ‘what if’ moment that could have altered things significantly.

It relates to the badly broken leg he suffered at pre-season training in early 2019 - not long after his 2018 Brownlow triumph - which forced him to miss a full season.

“A big one from an individual point of view is I broke my leg really badly at the absolute peak of my powers,” he told SEN Breakfast.

“That was after the 2018 season and heading into 2019 I knew I was going to be better again. I just wonder what those next five years would have looked like if I never broke my leg.

“Crossroad moments but that’s just what happens.”

Mitchell admits he has played mental mind games with himself over the years relating to things that happened, or may not have, during his career.

Despite the broken leg perhaps curtailing his own individual output in brown and gold, ‘Titch’ acknowledges he may have never have tasted premiership success with the Magpies in 2023 if things had been different.

“The way I look at it is I try and say maybe if I had another few great years at Hawthorn then maybe I would have signed a long-term deal there,” he added.

“And maybe the path to get the Collingwood and ultimately win a premiership at the biggest and best club - maybe that’s the reason it happened

“Maybe the broken leg was why it forced me to find something else outside of footy and another passion (Ball Magnets) which will help my transition out of the game a little easier.

“They’re the sort of things I’m saying to myself at the moment.”

Personal reflections aside, Mitchell was also asked to name the best player he played with at either the Swans, Hawks or Magpies.

“Definitely Buddy Franklin. You could throw Nick Daicos in there just about,” he answered.

“I missed Pendles (Scott Pendlebury) in his prime, we played together at the back end of both of our careers.

“Buddy or Nick for sure. I had a handful of games with Cyril (Rioli) and he easily could have played another five years.

“They’re the few that come to mind.”

As for the coaches he had the strongest connection with - Alastair Clarkson and Craig McRae for varying reasons.

“All the coaches were great but I think the two that I really connected well with were Clarko and Fly, for different reasons,” Mitchell said of his mentors.

“Clarko really allowed me to play without anxiety and play on instinct which was a strength of mine.

“In the back end of my career I really learned there was another approach to be successful and it doesn’t always have to be hard-edged and hard-nosed.

“Fly and the culture crowd at Collingwood is very caring, loving, supportive, embraces everyone and who they are individually. I really enjoyed that environment, I feel like that got the best out of me and others as well.”

Mitchell played 65 games for the Swans as a father-son prospect, then racked up 106 with the Hawks and finished off with 36 for the Pies.

He averaged a hefty 28.5 disposals across his double ton of senior outings.