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Sport Nation
Why 2025 is a big year for rising St Kilda star as contract announcement beckons
Nic Negrepontis • March 5th, 2025 8:45 pm
St Kilda utility Mitchito Owens looked like he was set to be one of the future superstars of the competition in 2023, breaking out as one of the game’s more interesting players.
However, the 21-year-old had a mixed 2024, spending a lot of the season deep forward and playing a secondary ruck role.
Having escaped what looked like it could be a serious injury in the AAMI Community Series and remaining in Round 1 calculations, Kane Cornes believes 2025 is a big season for Owens to get back on track.
“It’s a big year for Mitch Owens. He’s 2023 season was just enormous and we all admire the way he plays, but he’s got to do more,” Cornes told SEN’s Sportsday.
“How they get the best out of him – is it more on-ball minutes? Is it deep forward? He looked to be starved and not having much impact there (last year).
“I’m glad he’s ready to go for Round 1. How they use him will be fascinating because deep forward is not working.”
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy agrees, saying he’d like to see Owens used in the midfield more regularly.
“Their midfield needs some bolstering so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in there,” Healy said.
“I know they’ve used him as a second ruckman. I’m not sure if he’s got a lack of capacity to get across the game, but gee they need some extras in the midfield.”
While Owens is out of contract at the end of the year, AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey is reporting that he's set to sign a new four-year extension to remain at St Kilda until the end of the 2029 season.
