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Sport Nation
The forgotten man on the cusp of AFL return
SEN • May 12th, 2025 11:26 am
Collingwood’s Tom Mitchell is on the verge of an AFL return.
The 31-year-old midfielder has not played since played since Round 8 last year as he has dealt with foot and ankle issues.
But he returned through the VFL on the weekend, playing a half as the Magpies smashed the Northern Bullants by 75 points.
Mitchell, the 2018 Brownlow Medallist with Hawthorn and 2023 premiership Pie, gathered 10 disposals, had six clearances and laid four tackles in a promising return.
According to AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich, the forgotten Mitchell will be pressing his case for an AFL return in the coming weeks.
“He’s a Brownlow Medallist and his name is Tom Mitchell,” said Gabelich on SEN’s Fireball.
“He hadn’t played a game for 380 days until Saturday. Turned up at Preston City Oval to get through a half of football.
“Back where his old man Barry coached at the Northern Bullants for a period of time. He was greeted with a tag from Preston.
“He had six clearances in a half of footy and got through unscathed which was the big thing. He’ll play three quarters next week, then he’ll play a full game and start building towards pushing for AFL selection again.
“He is the forgotten premiership player at Collingwood. We haven’t seen him at AFL level since Anzac Day last year. He really struggled last year with the plantar fascia issue that ended his year. He had ankle issues across the start of this year.
“But we can’t forget that in 2023 in a premiership year he came fourth in the Copeland Trophy and polled Norm Smith Medal votes. It wasn’t that long ago.
“I know they’re stacked in that midfield, I know Ned Long has taken that spot, but in three or four weeks’ time Tom Mitchell is going to be putting his hand up for AFL selection again.”
Mitchell will have to find some decent form to displace Ned Long, who has averaged 17 touches, 5.7 tackles and 3.3 clearances in nine outings this year.
The 7-2 Magpies next host Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday afternoon while Mitchell and the VFL Pies will play the Giants at Victoria Park on Saturday morning.
