All-time Hawthorn great Sam Mitchell has laughed off Wayne Carey’s suggestion that he would struggle to find a place at another AFL club.
Before Carlton suffered the biggest loss in their history, the main talking point out of Friday night’s forgettable mismatch was Carey’s stunning observation during the first half.
The Channel Seven commentator pointed to Mitchell’s lack of pace and speculated about whether the midfielder could find a spot on another team.
“Just having a look at Sam Mitchell, I want to ask you a question, would he get a game at any other club?,” Carey said.
“Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an absolute champion, but if you’re in a lesser team, a team that’s not winning, you’re expected to put pressure on and his pace doesn’t allow him to do it.
“In any other team his pace would be a concern.”
Fellow commentator Cameron Ling immediately argued against Carey’s point and Twitter predictably lit up.
There did not appear to be any support for the North Melbourne great’s point of view.
Mitchell was among the best for Hawthorn on Friday night and was told about Carey’s comments immediately after the game.
“What can you say? He’s a media person, he’s paid to have an opinion and if that’s his opinion, that’s fine,” Mitchell said.
“There’s nothing I can say – I can’t (say) he wouldn’t have gotten a game, because other then Lethal (Leigh Matthew), he’s probably the greatest player.
“I will work on my speed, I suppose.”
The three-time premiership star has played 276 games for the Hawks.
There is no chance Mitchell will play elsewhere, but he said he had “absolutely no idea” whether another club might want him.
“My birth certificate says that I’m probably not too attractive a commodity to too many other clubs,” he said.
Commenting on his lack of speed, Mitchell added: “I guess I’d get found out at a few other clubs, apparently.”
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson was far less keen to discuss Carey’s eyebrow-raising opinion.
“It’s not even worth responding to really, is it?,” he said.
Early on Saturday morning, Carey went on Twitter in an attempt to clarify his comment.
“In TERMS of PRESSURE!!! Teams not as talented as the HAWKS don’t cover as well !! Mitchell’s standing in the game is unquestioned #opinion,” he said.
michael steel
Guest
It's like making a comment here. Say any thing with an exaggerated spin and you get ridiculed and humiliated.
Pasta Bob
Guest
So now we have gotten to the point where former player can't ask a question about current players. Footy is getting soft.
Don Freo
Guest
Because only non footballers know about footy. It's a top comment. It got people wondering. He's not correct though. Mitchell is worth his position in any side because of what he does to opposition star players with his (apparently) licenced knee. I hope Fyfe can play with freedom soon.
BigAl
Guest
I don't know if Carey is right - who does ? But good on Carey for not being afraid of putting out a controversial view ! There is no where near enough of this amongst that great cohort of . . . ex-player/commentator/chokey blokey/old boys club/back patting group that is usually served up ! Carey apparently has a past/dark side, but judging him only on his media performances he is top of the class - unlike Richo ! ( that would be the ex-footballer not the ex-politician), who was once voted the most popular player in the AFL, but in his media performances comes across as an overgrown schoolboy just doing/saying what someone else behind the scenes has told him to say. I also like Aker for the same reasons . . . if he is still about ?
Mark
Guest
I think I understand Carey's comments, and to a degree he is right. ie. Certain players play certain roles for certain clubs and if they were put into a different role or position in a different club they would be found wanting, although trying to use the example of Mitchell is a horrible choice.
Penster
Guest
The beauty of using ex footy players as commentators, is that there's no need to script stupid comments. Comes naturally.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Reckon Carey is right, if Mitchell was playing for Carlton they would be saying he is to slow and old. But Mitchell is not playing for carlton he is playing in a team that is at the top off it's game and he fits like a cog in a well oiled machine. Put Greg Williams in a crap team ( going back a fair way) and the same would be said.
Penster
Guest
Good old Wayne! Usually a pretty good commentator, but infamously known for lapses of judgment. Sam won't win the Stawell Gift, his job is to play his part in a team. And he's done that rather well, if 3 premierships and flogging 2 of the best teams in the comp is a yardstick .............
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
that is why i think it was staged b/c of the shock value attached. Notice how quickly Ling responded, like it was cued and scripted. then Bruce joking about a 'twitter explosion'
Michael Huston
Guest
But you gotta admit, bit harsh to single out one bloke whose probably the least deserving of it?
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
i think the comment was both staged by Ch 7 to drum up interest in the game by exploiting the hysteria of Social Media and also taken out of context. i knew what Carey was alluding too and their was a modicum of truth in it And i am a rabid Hawks fan :)
Michael Huston
Guest
What a ridiculous, unnecessary comment by Carey. Why did he feel the need to say it? Was anyone claiming Mitchell was the best player in the competition? Was anyone saying Mitchell had blistering pace? No. If we're going to cherry-pick faults in the games champions, Gary Ablett doesn't win enough hard balls, Buddy Franklin is too inaccurate, Nat Fyfe needs to improve his defensive game, Josh Kennedy wastes a lot of his possessions, Scott Pendlebury doesn't dominate games enough, Joel Selwood ducks for frees, Jarryd Roughead can be non-existent in some games, same too Adam Goodes. Has there ever been a perfect player that had no faults in their game? Nope. For the record, I think it's a two-way street. He may not have thrived without the talented team around him, yet he's been the most consistently tough and efficient player in that talented team for many years. Would Fyfe be as good if he didn't have the tallest ruckman in the AFL at his service? Would Ablett shine as much if he wasn't on a team of players in their early 20's? Would Buddy kick half the goals he's kicked if he wasn't on the two most successful teams of the last five years? These are all purely hypothetical, and not something that should be coming out of a genuine champion of the games mouth. Props to Mitchell for taking it with grace.