Sam MITCHELL

2017 Digest:   The star recruit has slipped in seamlessly to the midfield. Missed a week of training with a rolled ankle but what a professional.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

Played for : West Coast

1	NM	Brought his own ball to Etihad Stadium in first game in new colours. Work in tight sublime and linked well too.	8
2	StK	Won seven clearances among 25 touches. Didn’t stand out. His impact wasn’t as high as usual.	5
3	Rich	Quiet after half time. Still shows signs of vintage Sam Mitchell, but not his best game today.	6
4	Syd	Had Foote for company and was off with a second term lower leg knock. Came back on and hobbled around.	4
5		Ankle.
6	Frem	His 10 clearances was double the amount of any other player. And he did it despite looking proppy.	8
7	Port	Never panics, that his greatest asset as well as the ability to deliver the footy on either side of the body.	6
8	WB	Dominant in the first half and finished with 33 disposals. One of the best on ground.	8
9	Ess	The Bombers sweated on him and he struggled to have any impact. Got caught far too many times.	4
10	GWS	A key ball winner. Collected 31 possessions and kicked a goal.	7
11	GCS	Tried to show his teammates the way, which almost seemed futile in the end.	8
12		Bye.
13	Geel	Early doors he helped set up the win and while faded a tad he was a key; 29 possessions and eight tackles.	8
14	Melb	Had 27 disposals and six clearances. Important player.	7
15	WB	Constantly under pressure, which reduced efficiency, but when he had it (25 touches) the Dogs’ midfielders didn’t.	6
16	Port	Had plenty of the ball. Would have liked a bigger impact.	6
17	Frem	Clever in the midfield. Won seven clearances and that set the Eagles on their way.	6
18		Senior emergency.
19	Bris	Classy with the ball and dangerous as a forward. Kicked one goal and had 27 touches.	8
20	StK	Might have announced retirement but still a potent force.	7
21	Carl	Prominent with his ball winning and skill. Used the ball well in the windy conditions.	7
22	GWS	Quiet first quarter but then his footy smarts were on display. Eight clearances were big.	7
23	Adel	Clearly his best game for the club on a massive stage. Won 34 possessions and his experience was telling.	8
EF	Port	Knocked up finding the footy in midfield, but was caught a few times. Leadership in extra time huge.	7
SF	GWS	Got his fair share of ball, but shown a clean pair of heels by GWS mids. Ended career by booting two goals.	6

2016 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Geel	Got plenty of ball once again and was vital in third quarter surge. Caught a few times in final term.	7
2	WCE	Brought his own footy in first term. Staggering the Eagles never tagged him. Huge again.	8
3	WB	Hawks’ leading disposal winner. His foot skills – especially early – were sublime.	7
4	StK	Career-high 44 touches and kept Hawks in the game at stages. 10 clearances, 20 contested possessions.	9
5	Adel	Crows put a lot of work into restricting his space but he was still an influence.	7
6	GWS	Quiet start with Coniglio paying close attention. Got going to a degree, but ball use not up to standards.	4
7		Calf.
8	Frem	Very good early and while not one of biggest games was still effective.	6
9	Syd	Subdued by Mitchell when Sydney took charge. Frustrated at times. Possible calf.	3
10	Bris	Beaten by Robinson around the ground but managed seven inside-50s and six clearances.	6
11	Melb	Great battle with Vince (who took the points). Got a fair bit of ball but not as incisive as he can be.	7
13	NM	North focused on him physically but his second-half touches helped win game.	7
14	GCS	Huge numbers and the key to the engine room – eight clearances, five inside-50s.	8
16	Port	Targeted by the Power with a good old-fashioned tag, too smart for it to succeed.	8
17	Syd	Clearly Hawks’ best. Eight clearances, 11 contested possessions and four inside-50s.	8
18	Rich	Celebrated game 300 by winning team-high disposals. Nine clearances to boot.	8
19	Carl	Shadowed by Kerridge and failed to have his usual dominance on the game.	6
20	Melb	Did what he could through the midfield with four clearances. Not as clean this week.	7
21	NM	Racked up 37 disposals but just two clearances. Not his best game but handy.	7
22	WCE	Tagged and reduced to 22 disposals.	5
23	Coll	Huge game highlighted by nine clearances and four inside-50s.	8
QF	Geel	S. Selwood tracked him early. Frustrated at times but kept winning ball.	6
SF	WB	Plugged away with four clearances but only one inside-50. Lacked support.	6

2015 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Geel	Three clearances and influence around the stoppages was pronounced.	7
2		Calf.
3	WB	Always chose the right option in his use of the ball. Great generator.	8
4	Port	Just two disposals in the first half but responded with a huge second half.	6
5	NM	Roos’ had no answers for his inside ball-winning game.	7
6	GWS	Produced a massive first half effort. Strong in contests and never stopped trying.	7
7	Melb	Did as he pleased in midfield without a hard tag.	8
8	Syd	Everywhere. Eight clearances, six inside-50s and 11 contested possessions.	9
9	GCS	Knocked up winning possessions.	7
10	StK	Great work in packs and took full advantage of latitude.	8
12	Adel	Eight clearances, four inside-50s and four rebound 50s.	7
13	Ess	Huge with his ball winning and distribution. Always around the footy.	8
14	Coll	Matched on Crisp initially. Big start then reined in second term.	6
15	Frem	Brought his own ball for much of day. Will come under scrutiny for raised knee on Fyfe.	8
16	Syd	Six clearances, five inside-50s and team-high 14 contested possessions.	8
17	Carl	Perhaps not his best game but still racked up a mountain of touches.	8
18	Rich	Disposal numbers overstated his influence. Worked hard but under pressure.	6
19	WCE	Dominated for 36 possessions and nine clearances. Best on ground.	9
20	Geel	Five clearances, six inside-50s, 11 CPs and a heap of touches.	8
21	Port	Had 27 touches but wasn’t his usual influential self.	6
22		Ill.
23	Carl	Broke free to be a constant menace around the stoppages.	8
QF	WCE	Work ethic first class (10 clearances) but not a lot came of his possessions.	6
SF	Adel	Allowed to control too much footy around stoppages. Key player.	8
PF	Frem	Allowed to rack up the stats. Five clearances, 13 CPs, enormous work-rate.	8
GF	WCE	Won the ball constantly and his best work was done in close.	8

2014 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Bris	Shadowed by Rockliff and unable to have usual impact.	5
2		Calf.
3	Frem	Copped whack in mouth early then proceeded to totally ignore Crowley tag.	8
4	GCS	Made light of elbow to face early and generated drive all night.	7
5	Geel	Guthrie ran with him but still a factor with four inside-50s and six clearances.	7
6	Rich	Ran hard to create opportunities. Unusually high rate of turnovers	7
7	StK	Curren held him early then he hurt hamstring and subbed out.	1
8		Hamstring.
9		Hamstring.
10		Hamstring.
11		Hamstring.
12		Hamstring.
13		Hamstring.
14		Hamstring.
15		Hamstring.
16	NM	Started OK in return game after two months, but ran out of steam.	4
17	Adel	Seven tackles, three clearances and three inside-50s in impressive display.	8
18	Syd	Racked up the stats to end with six clearances and 13 contested possessions.	8
19		Ill.
20	Melb	Plenty of footy but kicking efficiency was poor for most of the day.	5
21	Frem	Won some ball but not his usual impact.	6
22	Geel	Nine clearances were pivotal and won plenty of ball throughout.	7
23	Coll	Just the usual 10 clearances, 13 contested possessions and all over the field.	8
QF	Geel	Allowed to roam free and racked up possessions at will. Guthrie then went to him.	8
SF		–
PF	Port	Wines was matched on him but he still had a significant input.	7
GF	Syd	Ex-teammate McGlynn couldn’t stop him. One of four prime movers.	8

2013 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Geel	Found space through the middle to hurt the Cats all match. Hawks’ best.	8
2	WCE	Dynamic in first term and ran himself to a standstill.	8
3	Coll	Only 35% efficient in the first half. Lifted second half but it wasn’t really his day.	6
4	Frem	Tracked closely by Crowley and had his moments but efficiency was a bit down.	6
5	NM	Usual constant turbine all over ground.	7
6	Adel	Inspirational as the sweeper across half back.	9
7	Syd	Polish about everything he did. Ball use was first class in traffic.	8
8	GWS	Had youngster Miles on him. Starred and kicked a stunning side-on goal.	9
9	GCS	Most consistent producer across four quarters.	8
10	Melb	Did what he had to without going overboard. Only eight kicks, nine contested poss.	7
12	Carl	After quiet start he got going – five inside-50s, six clearances and a goal.	7
13	WCE	Lifted after quiet start to be a factor– 10 cont poss, five clearances.	6
14	Bris	Constant drive out of the middle and put Lions under the hammer.	7
15	Geel	Monster first half when side struggling. Never stopped trying all night.	7
16	Port	Had a tough tussle with Cornes early before a much better second half.	7
17		Ill.
18	Ess	Clearance work (7) was first class and had three score assists. A key.	8
19	Rich	Battled hard and won 12 contested possessions but didn’t turn tide team’s way.	6
20	StK	Not as influential as usual.	5
21	Coll	Physically targeted by Collingwood. Inside work restricted but had an influence.	6
22	NM	Quiet early, but set up so much play after warming up. Modern Greg Williams.	7
23	Syd	Slow start and O’Keefe held sway. But worked into the game late third term.	5
QF	Syd	Huge first half and in heaps of attacking moves in first quarter. Always creating.	8
SF
PF	Geel	Played mostly half back flank first half. Unstoppable in middle with 38 touches.	9
GF	Frem	Crowley never gave him space and most possessions he did win were scrambled.	4

2012 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Coll	31 touches but some missed targets. Not as damaging as Pendlebury.	7
2	Geel	Brilliant in first half and Geelong couldn’t subdue him.	8
3	Adel	Stats down on usual high level. Tracked by Reilly.	4
4	WCE	Had 14 contested possessions. Tough in tight.	7
5	Syd	OK but not his usual influence.	5
6	StK	Brilliant performance after quiet first quarter. Set up so much play.	8
7	Melb	Found it hard to break clear of McKenzie but better in second half.	4
8	Frem	Hard working game all day in the middle.	7
9	Rich	Tagged by Tuck and while he battled hard his influence wasn’t huge.	5
10	NM	Clearance work was as good as it gets. BOG if it weren’t for Buddy.	9
11	Port	Typical Mitchell performance, eight clearances and seven tackles.	7
12	Bris	One lovely left foot goal playing around boundary. Busy in second half.	6
14	Carl	Architect in middle who ticked over despite attentions of Carrazzo.	8
15	GWS	Had a good contest with Toby Greene all game. Honours even.	8
16	WB	Racked up numbers at will (13 in second term alone) and Hawks’ best.	8
17	Coll	Did the business again through the midfield – nine clearances, superb use.	9
18	Ess	Had minor corkie in third term, but output was unfettered.	7
19	Geel	Kept pumping the pistons – 10 clearances and 13 contested possessions.	7
20	Port	Slow start but had a field day late when the Hawks were rolling.	7
22	Syd	Well held but still managed six clearances and six inside-50s.	6
23	WCE	Four goal assists first half were crucial in setting up win. Good all night.	8
QF	Coll	Torched Blair with 12 clearances, 17 contested possessions. Huge influence.	8
PF	Adel	Inspirational with ball-winning and lightning pin point handball.	9
GF	Syd	Went with O’Keefe. Terrific start, never conceded an inch. Soft 50m penalty.	7