Full name Samuel Mitchell Height 1.79 m Career start 2002 | Height/Weight 179 cm / 84 kg Weight 83 kg Name Sam Mitchell | |
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Date of birth (1982-10-12) 12 October 1982 (age 33) Draft 36th overall, 2001 National Draft, Hawthorn Role Australian Rules Footballer Spouse Lyndall Degenhardt (m. 2009) Children Smith Mitchell, Scarlett Mitchell, Emerson Mitchell Similar People Luke Hodge, Cyril Rioli, Nat Fyfe, Jarryd Roughead, Josh Gibson | ||
The afl whiteboard sam mitchell
Samuel "Sam" Mitchell (born 12 October 1982) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club and West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Contents
- The afl whiteboard sam mitchell
- Sam mitchell hawthorn hawks highlights
- Early life
- Hawthorn
- Debut season
- 20032007
- 20082010 club captain
- 20112016
- West Coast
- Kneeing controversy
- Playing style
- Statistics
- Honours and achievements
- Personal life
- References
Sam mitchell hawthorn hawks highlights
Early life
A product of Mooroolbark, in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, Mitchell played in the under 18 TAC Cup competition with the Eastern Ranges. He was the club's best and fairest player in 1999 and 2000. Disappointed at being overlooked in the 2000 draft, Mitchell joined the Box Hill Hawks. After a couple of games in the development squad he gained promotion to the seniors and completed the season as the team's number one rover. He was a member of Box Hill's premiership side in 2001.
Hawthorn
Mitchell was recruited to the Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL in the 2001 AFL draft with selection number 36. This selection was received by Hawthorn in the deal which saw Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin traded to Fremantle, whilst Hawthorn gained selections one (Luke Hodge), 20 (Daniel Elstone) and number 36 (Mitchell).
Debut season
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. 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. He polled 31 votes in just 11 games to win the VFL's best and fairest award, the J. J. Liston Trophy.
2003–2007
In 2003 Mitchell continued to improve, winning the 2003 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, 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 off 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 Richie Vandenberg.
2008–2010: club captain
Mitchell was ineligible for 2008's Brownlow Medal following a tripping charge in the match against Melbourne 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's Gary Ablett, Jr. in the second quarter, however the 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.
2011–2016
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. In 2012, Mitchell, along with Richmond's Trent Cotchin, both finished tied for second place in the Brownlow to Jobe Watson. On 12 January 2016 the World Anti-Doping Agency found Watson and another 16 Essendon players guilty of taking an illegal substance during the 2012 AFL season, an AFL commission meeting in November 2016 determined the implications for the 2012 Brownlow Medal. On 15 November 2016, Mitchell and Cotchin were both retrospectively awarded the medal, and, on 13 December 2016, both were formally presented with the Medals in a private ceremony in Melbourne.
Mitchell was rewarded with the Peter Crimmins Medal in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and became a five-time best and fairest winner at Hawthorn, behind only Leigh Matthews who won eight during his career. On 12 October 2016, news broke that Mitchell, at Hawthorn’s request, was considering a move West Coast and he was officially traded to West Coast two days later.
West Coast
In October 2016, Mitchell was traded to the West Coast Eagles. In August 2017, he announced he would retire from the AFL at the end of the 2017 season. Sam Mitchell played the final game of his career in the semi final, where he recorded two goals and twenty-eight disposals in a 67-point loss to Greater Western Sydney.
Kneeing controversy
On 13 July 2015, Mitchell was found guilty by the AFL's match review panel of having kneed the right thigh of Fremantle Dockers player Nathan Fyfe during the second quarter of the previous day's game and was fined $1000 for the offence. The media then brought to light other kneeing incidents involving Mitchell, those being the kneeing of Adelaide Crows captain Taylor Walker in the round 12 game and the kneeing of Greater Western Sydney's Ryan Griffen in round 6 of the 2015 season. Another kneeing video incident surfaced of Mitchell kneeing North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson. The video shows Mitchell walking up to an unsuspecting Thompson and kneeing him in the left thigh. Media reports from 2008 show that an opposition club, Brisbane expressed concerns to the AFL about Sam Mitchell's kneeing of opponents.
Playing style
Mitchell is often cited as one of the most ambidextrous players in the AFL and much opinion is made about which is his preferred foot. Although some have claimed that he was originally a left footer who switched to right foot later in his junior career, Mitchell has stated that he has just always tried to use the appropriate foot for the situation. He does however switch to his left foot when he wants to kick longer. Similarly, his handpassing is equally good with either hand.
Statistics
Statistics are correct as of the end of round 23, 2017.Honours and achievements
Team
Individual
Mitchell has polled a total of 220 Brownlow Medal votes in his career, placing him level with Gary Ablett Jr. for the all time highest number of career votes. In 2016 he broke Robert Harvey's record for receiving votes in more games than any other player.
Personal life
Mitchell married Lyndall Degenhardt in early November 2009. They have a son born in 2010 and twin daughters born in 2011.