Hawthorn’s AFL premiership prospects have suffered a huge blow, with fears Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell will miss the season because of a broken leg.
Mitchell, one of the AFL’s top onballers, suffered the injury on Friday in a training drill – Hawthorn’s first day back in pre-season after the Christmas break.
An ambulance was driven onto their Waverley Park ground and Mitchell was taken to hospital, where scans soon revealed the extent of his injury.
Significantly, the club confirmed the severity as soon as they knew Mitchell would need surgery.
“For Tom to suffer an injury like this is incredibly disappointing for both him and our footy club,” Hawks football boss Graham Wright said in a statement.
“He will undergo surgery over the weekend and, as a result, will most likely miss the 2019 season.
“However, Tom is a very resilient young man and we have no doubt that he will tackle his rehab with the same professionalism and diligence with which he approaches his training.”
The Hawks are likely to release more information early next week about Mitchell after his operation.
Mitchell had a runaway win last September for his first Brownlow. His extended absence will mean a major reshuffling of the Hawthorn midfield.
The Hawks lost their two finals in 2018 to finish fourth, but, after missing the finals the year before, they had been bullish about their prospects this season.
They were busy in the trade period, recruiting injured GWS wingman Tom Scully.
Hawthorn also sent Ryan Burton to Port Adelaide so they could recruit two-time All-Australian Chad Wingard.
Last month, Mitchell spoke of how happy he was that Hawks great Sam Mitchell was returning as an assistant coach.
Tom said he was looking forward to picking the brains of the 2012 joint Brownlow Medallist, seeing his vast expertise as an obvious way to improve further.
Mitchell, 25, has played 111 games since his 2013 debut, joining the Hawks from Sydney after the 2016 season.
Hawthorn’s bad news follows Carlton’s horror run of pre-season injuries before Christmas.
They lost co-captain Sam Docherty for a second-successive year when he needed another knee reconstruction.
Adelaide recruit Mitch McGovern (back) and Jarrod Pickett (knee) were also hurt.
Dean
Guest
Macca, your comment was that we were shown up terribly. Your stats show otherwise. 3 key areas in the midfield were won by the hawks against the tigers. A lot of inside 50's were generated from the tigers backline. You cannot say with the stats in front of you that we were shown up terribly against the tigers.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Dean - the midfield was shown yup for a lack of depth in finals. In the Richmond final the Hawks won the clearances 44-41 - Mitchell had 11 clearances and O'meara had 8. They won the contested possession 174 to 169, Mitchell had 23 and O'meara 17. And the overall possessions they won 373 to 364 with Mitchell having 38 and O'meara 29. Worpel had 17 touches. Shiels went at 50% DE while Smith went at 60 and they were 2 of just 5 players to get over 21 touches (Defenders Henderson and Sicliy were the other two. Most tellingly though the Tigers won the inside 50's 66 to 37 ("converting all the inside 50’s they had" wasn't the issue in that game) and had 30 scoring shot to 19 - that doesn't happen if you midfield is winning. Against Melbourne Melbourne had almost 30% more clearances (36 to 28) and Mitchell had 8 of those 28.
Dean
Guest
Hawks may have to change their game plan slightly but l do not think anything drastic has to be done. Huge loss and will be hard to cover Mitch but steps are in place for all clubs when something like this occurs. "in this instance is that the Hawks midfield got shown up terribly in the finals last year" is a factually inaccurate statement. Against the tigers the Hawks had more disposals, clearances and contested possessions and against Melbourne were only slightly beaten in most stats. Melbourne only had 8 more clearances and 15 more contested possessions but the Hawks had more inside 50's. Against Melbourne one of our major midfielders was missing in O'meara which would have brought those stats closer. That is hardly being "shown up terribly in finals". The hawks major issue in 2018 wasn't the midfield but the forwards not converting all the inside 50's they had.
Macca
Roar Rookie
The issue with the “one soldier out – one soldier in” in this instance is that the Hawks midfield got shown up terribly in the finals last year and Clarkson seems to have built his midfield around Mitchell, I am not convinced the can simply plug someone else into that same role, I think they will need to change the whole game plan.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Very weak reasoning. Not similar in the slightest.
Seth
Guest
Thas good for the cats
EJ
Roar Pro
feel really bad for Mitchell, tho would be good to see whether O'Meara is able to fill the void mitchell will leave
Rod
Guest
Gary Rohan hasn't developed as hoped since his broken leg.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
Bad luck, must be a bad break.
Dean
Guest
Terrible luck for Mitchell and the Hawks. Hopefully with the new rule in place they will look at Bolton, Grigg or Gibson to top up the midfield. 3 players looking for that opportunity that can play.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Terrible news for Tom. Here's hoping he powers through his recovery.
Nineteen
Guest
Anyone that takes delight in the physical suffering of another human being is a flog.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Rissole, very poor comment. But you knew that, and yet, said it anyway. Then, to cap it all off, attempted to defend it. I’m guessing you thought it was some kind of justifiable pay-back due to the mean things folks have said in the past about Essendon’s performance enhancing drug scandal. You’re a real class act.
Rissole
Roar Rookie
So you reading articles not related to the club you support and leaving comments intended to provoke supporters and me reading articles not related to the club I support and leaving a comment intended to provoke a supporter is not similar? You seem to live in your own little bubble but surely you could ascertain the link.
Matches
Roar Rookie
The risk of chasing 'big fish' is that they take a larger portion of the salary cap than home developed stars. If they break down the side is exposed with poor depth. Clarko is one coach who has the ability to put someone in to play a role; "one soldier out - one soldier in". Can 1 player can replace the Brownlow medalist's influence though?
Matches
Roar Rookie
@Maths Your Eagles play the hawks twice including at the MCG. Is it goodish? ;-)
Matches
Roar Rookie
You're assuming there were invites :-)
Matches
Roar Rookie
He's not available so they approached dumbo. I hear he flies, but he has an injured ear.
Raimond
Roar Guru
I think the Hawks need a Rambo to replace Mitchell.
anon
Roar Pro
Hawks are stuffed. Might struggle to make the 8 now. Often it takes a player a couple years to get back to the top of their game after a leg break.