Exclusive: Hawks’ Brownlow star Tom Mitchell open to a trade — with Victorian rival front of mindTom Morris
Fox Sports
June 7th, 2021 8:44 pmBrownlow medallist Tom Mitchell is open to being traded to another Victorian club at the end of the season under the right circumstances.
Foxfooty.com.au understands the midfielder, who is contracted until the end of 2023, is happy to see out his career at Hawthorn but would entertain a move if the club asked him to.
Managers believe the Hawks will likely trade out at least one established member of the team - which is also a view held by some internally - but it remains to be seen whether Mitchell is that player.
Like Mitchell, Chad Wingard, Luke Breust and Jaeger O’Meara have deals until the end of 2023, while reigning Peter Crimmins medallist Jack Gunston is tied down until the end of 2022.
Mitchell, Wingard and O’Meara are all managed by TLA.
It is understood Mitchell would be receptive to a move to Richmond, which boasts a suite of 2021 draft picks and is sure to be in premiership contention again next year.
Player agents say the Tigers are hunting a mid-20s midfielder to top up again and Mitchell is one of the players that fits the mould.
Though Hawthorn and Richmond will be careful not to declare their hands too early for strategic reasons and Mitchell will say he’s happy at Waverley Park - which is true – the left-footer’s future in brown and gold is at best slightly uncertain four months out from the trade period.
If the 28-year-old is asked to consider a trade, he would only do so to another Victorian-based team in the premiership window. It’s also clear any trade would be a mutual decision, rather than a Collingwood-Treloar type scenario.
Mitchell’s connection with Carlton is strong too. He is friends and business partners with Patrick Cripps, while his father Barry played 38 games in navy blue from 1994-1996.
As Hawthorn accelerates its rebuild, the club has tremendous flexibility and scope to bring in talent, perhaps more than any other club. No player is locked in beyond 2023 - a rarity in today’s landscape - while Tom Scully and Jon Patton retiring has given list manager Mark McKenzie salary cap breathing space.
If Mitchell left, he would do so under similar circumstances to Shaun Higgins at North Melbourne last November, via a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Hawthorn has one first round selection – currently Pick 2 – plus two in the early 20s.
At each of the past two drafts they have used their first two picks, including Denver Grainger-Barras, who last November became the club’s first top-10 selection since 2006.
Meanwhile, Richmond boasts two first-round and two second-round picks which could be used in negotiations if the Hawks decide to ask the question of Mitchell at the end of the year.
One of the Tigers’ first rounders is tied to Geelong and one of the second rounders is tied to St Kilda.
Mitchell, a two-time All-Australian, is ranked elite by Champion Data for disposals in 2021, averaging 33.5 per game, and above average for score assists.
In his Brownlow Medal season of 2018, he averaged 35.3 disposals, then missing the entire 2019 season with a broken leg.
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