Sam Mitchell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football
player for the Hawthorn Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
in the AFL in the 2001 AFL Draft
with selection 36 (received in the deal which saw Trent Croad
and Luke McPharlin
head to Fremantle, and the numbers one Luke Hodge
and 36 (Mitchell) selections go Hawthorn's way). The first half of his debut season in 2002 saw him playing with the Box Hill Hawks
, until he broke into the Hawthorn side midway through the season due to some amazing form. Following some unimpressive performances where he never managed more than 14 disposals, he was dropped for Round 15 but was recalled after more eye-catching performances in Round 19. It turns out he polled 31 votes in just 11 games for the VFL's best and fairest
award, the J. J. Liston Trophy
which was the main reason for his constant recalls to the Hawthorn side.
A solid season followed in 2004, and in 2005 he played a "super" season until a foot injury sidelined him in Round 15. For the 2006 season
, Mitchell was named vice-captain of Hawthorn and displayed stellar form throughout the season culminating in winning the Peter Crimmins Medal
for Hawthorn's best and fairest.
In 2007 he capped of another wonderful season by coming 3rd in the votes for the highest honour in Australian Football, the Brownlow Medal
with 21 votes, 1 short of joint 2nd place winners, North Melbourne's Brent Harvey and Brisbane's Simon Black who both polled 22 votes, and coming 8 votes behind winner of the 2007 Brownlow, Geelong's Jimmy Bartel
.
On 6 October 2007, during the Peter Crimmins Medal Event, he was announced as Hawthorn's next captain, taking over the reins from retiring captain Richard Vandenberg.
in round nine.
On Saturday, 27 September, Mitchell captained the Hawks to the 2008 Premiership, the first in 17 years and the clubs 10th, beating the reigning premiers, Geelong
, by 26 points. Mitchell was reported for rough conduct against Geelong superstar Gary Ablett, Jr.
in the second quarter, however this report was dismissed at the conclusion of the weekend.
At the end of the 2010 season he handed the captaincy over to Luke Hodge
, who was made captain of the 2010 All-Australian team
.
Mitchell polled 30 votes in the 2011 Brownlow Medal
, but was ineligible to win after an incident in Round 5 of the season. He had the second-most votes, behind Collingwood's Dane Swan
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Debut season
A product of Mooroolbark, in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, Mitchell was recruited to the Hawthorn Football ClubHawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the AFL in the 2001 AFL Draft
2001 AFL Draft
The 2001 AFL Draft consisted of a national draft, a rookie draft, a pre-season draft and a trade period. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League .In 2001 there were 83...
with selection 36 (received in the deal which saw Trent Croad
Trent Croad
Trent Eric Croad is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League .During his 222 game AFL career, he achieved some of the Australian Football League's highest honours including an AFL premiership medallion, All-Australian selection, representing...
and Luke McPharlin
Luke McPharlin
Luke McPharlin is an Australian rules football player for the Fremantle Football Club. McPharlin was educated at Christ Church Grammar School, graduating in 1999. McPharlin is both a key back and a key forward....
head to Fremantle, and the numbers one Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...
and 36 (Mitchell) selections go Hawthorn's way). The first half of his debut season in 2002 saw him playing with the Box Hill Hawks
Box Hill Hawks
Box Hill Hawks Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the Victorian Football League. It has an alliance with the Hawthorn Football Club which plays in the Australian Football League....
, until he broke into the Hawthorn side midway through the season due to some amazing form. Following some unimpressive performances where he never managed more than 14 disposals, he was dropped for Round 15 but was recalled after more eye-catching performances in Round 19. It turns out he polled 31 votes in just 11 games for the VFL's best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award, the J. J. Liston Trophy
J. J. Liston Trophy
The J. J. Liston Trophy is awarded to the best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League .-History:The VFA awarded the Recorder Cup from 1923 to 1941, and also ran a different award known as the VFA Medal .After a hiatus in 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, a best and fairest award...
which was the main reason for his constant recalls to the Hawthorn side.
2003–2007
In 2003 Mitchell continued to improve, winning the AFL Rising Star award and becoming known as "the Extractor" (particularly by commentator Brian Taylor) for his high amount of clearances and ability to win the ball out of middle of the ground.A solid season followed in 2004, and in 2005 he played a "super" season until a foot injury sidelined him in Round 15. For the 2006 season
2006 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final...
, Mitchell was named vice-captain of Hawthorn and displayed stellar form throughout the season culminating in winning the Peter Crimmins Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
The Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
for Hawthorn's best and fairest.
In 2007 he capped of another wonderful season by coming 3rd in the votes for the highest honour in Australian Football, the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
with 21 votes, 1 short of joint 2nd place winners, North Melbourne's Brent Harvey and Brisbane's Simon Black who both polled 22 votes, and coming 8 votes behind winner of the 2007 Brownlow, Geelong's Jimmy Bartel
Jimmy Bartel
James 'Jimmy' Bartel is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League . A midfielder at and , Bartel is a Brownlow Medallist, two-time All-Australian, and was part of the Cats' AFL premiership-winning teams in 2007, 2009 and 2011, being named the...
.
On 6 October 2007, during the Peter Crimmins Medal Event, he was announced as Hawthorn's next captain, taking over the reins from retiring captain Richard Vandenberg.
2008–present
Mitchell was ineligible for 2008's Brownlow Medal following a tripping charge against MelbourneMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in round nine.
On Saturday, 27 September, Mitchell captained the Hawks to the 2008 Premiership, the first in 17 years and the clubs 10th, beating the reigning premiers, Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
, by 26 points. Mitchell was reported for rough conduct against Geelong superstar Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr. is a professional Australian rules football player and current captain of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
in the second quarter, however this report was dismissed at the conclusion of the weekend.
At the end of the 2010 season he handed the captaincy over to Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge
Luke Hodge is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...
, who was made captain of the 2010 All-Australian team
2010 All-Australian team
The 2010 All-Australian team represents the best performed Australian Football League players for the 2010 season. It was announced on 13 September 2010, as a complete Australian rules football team of 22 players and a coach. An initial squad of 40 players was previously announced on 30 August 2010...
.
Mitchell polled 30 votes in the 2011 Brownlow Medal
2011 Brownlow Medal
The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football. The award was presented on Monday, 26 September, in the week before the 2011 AFL Grand Final.-Leading votegetters:...
, but was ineligible to win after an incident in Round 5 of the season. He had the second-most votes, behind Collingwood's Dane Swan
Dane Swan
Dane Swan is an Australian rules footballer for Collingwood in the Australian Football League.Since 2007 Swan has emerged as one of the AFL's elite midfielders, winner of the prestigious Brownlow Medal in 2011 with a record tally of 34 votes...
.