Mitchell to debut

[JudesaGun]

If any debutant needs his own thread it's Tom Mitchell - the most hyped debut I can recall in a long time.

Here's hoping he avoids the vest!

[i'm-uninformed2]

Swans just tweeted Mitchell to debut this weekend with full story online at 10am

[ScottH]

If any debutant needs his own thread it's Tom Mitchell - the most hyped debut I can recall in a long time.

Here's hoping he avoids the vest!

It would be unusual if he didn't get the vest.

[jono2707]

Fantastic news and so well deserved. But the vest is likely....

Hopefully the start of a wonderfully long red and whore career....

[Primmy]

Oh that's great.

Who got dropped.

[Triple B]

Hopefully the start of a wonderfully long red and whore career....

Perks of being a footballer...

[swanspant12]

Fantastic news. Need to keep blooding these young blokes. No pun intended.

Can someone tell me his stats for the past couple of weeks in the reserves?

[mcs]

Fantastic news and so well deserved. But the vest is likely....

Hopefully the start of a wonderfully long red and whore career....

:rofl

Well done to Mitchell. Anyone that seen the reserves knows just what talent he has - looking forward to him kicking on in the firsts team! Good luck Tom, looking forward to seeing you develop as a wonderful footballer at our wonderful club :)

[ScottH]

Fantastic news. Need to keep blooding these young blokes. No pun intended.

Can someone tell me his stats for the past couple of weeks in the reserves?

In the 50's last week.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Perks of being a footballer...

Lol amen.

[RogueSwan]

... and whore career....

Duece Mitchell ??????????????????


Oh that's great.

Who got dropped.

Reid?

[Doctor]

Oh that's great.

Who got dropped.

In for the injured Reid perhaps?

[ugg]

Fantastic news. Need to keep blooding these young blokes. No pun intended.

Can someone tell me his stats for the past couple of weeks in the reserves?

Champion Data guy tweeted 42 to 3/4 time and 52 the week before.

[swanspant12]

Champion Data guy tweeted 42 to 3/4 time and 52 the week before.

Cheers Ugg.

That's some impressive numbers. Hope Tommy goes well.

I certainly see more upside for Tommy then Lamb in terms of senior football.

[ShockOfHair]

Cheers Ugg.

I certainly see more upside for Tommy then Lamb in terms of senior football.

Couldn't you have just said 'Lamb's not much chop'?

[aardvark]

They are both going to be very important parts of our midfield in a year or two. Good luck Tom, I hope you have a blinder.

[Swansongster]

Really looking forward to this. All the best to Tom.

[ugg]

Champion Data guy tweeted 42 to 3/4 time and 52 the week before.

CD have resumed the count. 54 disposals 24 minutes into the last quarter.

[magic.merkin]

Count finished...


Glenn Luff ?@LuffG0305 1m
Tom Mitchell 56 disposals, 20 cont poss, 10 clearances, 10 tackles and wait for it .... 241 #supercoach points. On the back of 52 last week

[Rod_]

Good luck to him and hope that Lamb also plays, however I can see that a tall will come in to cover the height...

[liz]

Can we expect the Swans to receive a "please explain" from the AFL for breaching the embargo on announcing team news before the C7 nightly news?

[Mr Magoo]

I cant wait to see how he goes. 56 disposals is huge at any level and I get the feeling he may be a bit like hanneberry in that whatever level he steps up to he just adjusts and thrives.

Hopefully we have seen the back of his injury problems and good luck to him

[707]

Tom Mitchell 56 disposals, 20 cont poss, 10 clearances, 10 tackles and wait for it .... 241 #supercoach points. On the back of 52 last week

Wow, I don't care who the opposition was, I can't remember any previous players for us getting those numbers, even Hanners. If he stays fit he will be a fantastic addition to our midfield.

[liz]

Wow, I don't care who the opposition was, I can't remember any previous players for us getting those numbers, even Hanners. If he stays fit he will be a fantastic addition to our midfield.

Tim Schmidt was getting similar numbers prior to his debut.

[ugg]

Wow, I don't care who the opposition was, I can't remember any previous players for us getting those numbers, even Hanners. If he stays fit he will be a fantastic addition to our midfield.
Still only 2nd best in the official results. Xavier must have had one hell of a game at fullback

[stellation]

Still only 2nd best in the official results. Xavier must have had one hell of a game at fullback

It's the Old Xaverians network paying off the record keepers; they'll do anything to further their cause.

[Primmy]

Hang on we are talking NEAFL here. There have been some massive stats in the last couple of weeks.

Forgot about Sam.....hm.. have to move Drey down forward, Marty goes in up back, swap Chops for Tom Mitchell?

And a boom tish to you Stella

[ugg]

It's the Old Xaverians network paying off the record keepers; they'll do anything to further their cause.

I feel a Dan Brown novel coming up here.

[Auntie.Gerald]

tommy is more suited for the SCG then Chops is my guess.........and it is difficult to go with Morton, Chops and Jetta on a small field

[desredandwhite]

Can we expect the Swans to receive a "please explain" from the AFL for breaching the embargo on announcing team news before the C7 nightly news?

I believe clubs are allowed to make certain announcements beforehand - they just can't release the full selected side. From memory we've had certain other "leaks" on a Thursday before - Almost certain we knew about Rampe's debut and a couple others.

[RogueSwan]

........and it is difficult to go with Morton, Chops and Jetta on a small field

Huh? Why not?

[Auntie.Gerald]

Rogue

its just my humble opinion that a bloods style of football even works better on a small field and that is very much "in and under footy" and having players that fit this style of football

therefore I have always felt that if you play true to that style of footy which is the core of our football......then you cant have too many "outside players" in a group of 22

That is not to say that Lambie and Morton and Jetta are not improving in contested football - I just think from what I have seen of Tommy that he truly is made for contested football small field games ala the Bombers game this wknd at the SCG

I also think that the Swans are truly upping the anti amongst the playing group which is a fantastic environment for the Swans playing group right now but even more so coming towards the finals when experience counts

[RogueSwan]

Rogue

its just my humble opinion.. ..then you cant have too many "outside players" in a group of 22....

I assume you mean midfielders here? If so, why included Morton? I can see your point of having too many striclty "outside midfielders" but seeing we have a few that can be both in and out (Hanners, Jack, Macca) surely two strictly outside midefielders isn't too many? But then again I don't think changing just one footballer should make a big difference to the team, (with a couple of obvious exceptions eg: Jetta circa 2012) as last week showed.

[liz]

Not sure when Lamb became a "strictly outside midfielder". He plays predominantly on ball in the reserves.

[wolftone57]

Not sure when Lamb became a "strictly outside midfielder". He plays predominantly on ball in the reserves.

I agree Liz. In the Twos Lamb plays the same sort of role as Joey does in the seniors and he does it really well so definitely not an outside player. He plays inside and out same as Joey and drifts forward to provide a target same as Joey. Me thinks he might have just modelled his game at Swans on...Joey????

Bugger! Almost forgot. Congratulations Tom Mitchell on your de`but good luck in the game. I just wonder how we are going to rearrange our forwardline with Sammy out? Birdie had a good one last week against Swan when he had him in the first half and played pretty well all game. In saying that Essendon are really quick. I was looking at Twos footage and Tom reminds me of a fast version of Diesel, good in the air, in close & outside, clever hands.

[dimelb]

Sam was mostly on the wing last week. Perhaps a job Dre might handle fairly well.

[stellation]

I assume you mean midfielders here? If so, why included Morton? I can see your point of having too many striclty "outside midfielders" but seeing we have a few that can be both in and out (Hanners, Jack, Macca) surely two strictly outside midefielders isn't too many? But then again I don't think changing just one footballer should make a big difference to the team, (with a couple of obvious exceptions eg: Jetta circa 2012) as last week showed.

Speaking of Rogue, have you had any Rogue beers?

[Reggi]

Tim Schmidt once collected mid 60s possessions in NEAFL. Great news though. Hope they start him and don't make him Sub

[Auntie.Gerald]

just to qualify

Lambie i realise in ressies is being made to play an inside type midfield role which is imperative for his development

I just think against a team like the Bombers on a small ground like the SCG it is made for more ready inside midfielders

Lambie is getting there and hell i could be so wrong and Lambie and Tom and Jetta all play

I included Morton in the outside players as in he doesnt rotate thru the midfield but the other guys can play midfield and upfront in their rotation

[crackedactor]

Still only 2nd best in the official results. Xavier must have had one hell of a game at fullback Very Good point. 56 disposals and still not BOG. I understand he got 50 the week before and was also not BOG. Now I am getting excited as to how good this Xavier Richards is???

[crackedactor]

just to qualify

Lambie i realise in ressies is being made to play an inside type midfield role which is imperative for his development

I just think against a team like the Bombers on a small ground like the SCG it is made for more ready inside midfielders

Lambie is getting there and hell i could be so wrong and Lambie and Tom and Jetta all play

I included Morton in the outside players as in he doesnt rotate thru the midfield but the other guys can play midfield and upfront in their rotationDid anyone hear Garry Lyons on the footy show tonight?? He said he spoke to Dan Hannebery and he told him that Tom Mitchell has the best hands he has ever seen??? Wow what a wrap. I thought guys like McVeigh, Jack, Kennedy,Goodes were pretty good with their hands. I am definitely not missing Saturdays game. I hope he is not the sub.

[Auntie.Gerald]

the first time I saw Tommy hand pass on the high lights video he so reminded me of Diesel with that slow mo looping long left handed hand pass

Tommy appeared to have so much time to pick his target

[Cardinal]

I expect this will be the biggest debut for the Swans since Jessie White.

[Bloody Hell]

Can't wait!

I mean, @@@@ me - 52 touches....sorry not enough. Next week 56.

OK - let's see if you can play a role.

I love the Swans and I think the best intro to Senior footy is via the vest, but I hope he starts. No one is going to mope. When was the last time Everitt, or anyone picked up 56 touches in the 2's???

[Bloody Hell]

Must say I feel sorry for Lamb.

I would have dropped someone else before him and given him a full game.

[Bloody Hell]

Full games for all!!!

[goswannies]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM MITCHELL!

best of luck for your debut :)

[Big Al]

After the idiocy of the events this week it's nice to see a good news story. Tommy isn't a young gun he's a full on howitzer.

Never seen a player this young have the footy smarts that this kid has. Can't help keep finding the ball and then uses it so well it's scary. As long as his body cooperates we are going get many years of enjoyment watching him play. This is as excited as I've been about a youngster at the Swans.

No pressure though Tommy. ;)

[stellation]

Tim Schmidt once collected mid 60s possessions in NEAFL. Great news though. Hope they start him and don't make him Sub

To be fair, Tim was a decent player and could have had a solid career at seniors level if not hampered by injuries and cake.

[ScottH]

I hope Tom has the foresight to tell Goodes that it wouldn't be the same debuting without our biggest star out on the ground.

[swansrob]

There's still time for Tom to collect 39 Brownlow votes. What are his odds at this point?

[mcs]

After the idiocy of the events this week it's nice to see a good news story. Tommy isn't a young gun he's a full on howitzer.

Never seen a player this young have the footy smarts that this kid has. Can't help keep finding the ball and then uses it so well it's scary. As long as his body cooperates we are going get many years of enjoyment watching him play. This is as excited as I've been about a youngster at the Swans.

No pressure though Tommy. ;)

I'm super excited as well. If the body holds up, he will be a cracking player for us, end of story :) I remember watching him for the first time last year in a ressies game. I had forgotten that he had finally got on the park, and spent 15 minutes bamboozled by the guy I didn't recognize. Then remembered I had my fixture card on me and checked who it was... and it clicked! He is an absolute ball magnet, uses the ball well and is a clever footballer. If he slots into midfield like we all know he will, we will have another beast in there to complement our already fantastic midfield group!

I expect that he will start as the sub tomorrow and probably only get a quarter or a quarter and a half, but I still can't wait to see his first steps in the big league!

I am so looking forward to tomorrow's game. After watching what we did last week to the Pies, I've got a good feeling about tomorrow. I have a feeling the reigning premiers are just beginning to awake from an early season slumber - and that spells trouble for the other 17 teams in the comp!

[ItsAllGoodes]

Never seen a player this young have the footy smarts that this kid has. ;)

Hopefully he will be our answer to Jaeger O/Meara (GC Suns)...now he is one serious football player

I will settle for Tommy being as good as his dad

[Industrial Fan]

To be fair, Tim was a decent player and could have had a solid career at seniors level if not hampered by injuries and cake.
:clap: I saw Tim a year or two back at a Sydney AFL seminar. Certainly hadnt lost any of his hugability.

[Big Al]

Anyone disappointed. ;)

Wow is all I can say.

[aardvark]

He just looked so at home. He's a keeper Al!

[31 hard at it]

Tom can play.
Great addition to the team tonight.

Selectors tearing hair our.

Only 22 can play !

[ScottH]

Anyone disappointed. ;)

Wow is all I can say.

Yes.
1.2

Back to the twos!!
;)

[Nico]

How lucky are we to have this bloke. He just oozes talent. I know Roos waxed lyrical about his clean hands but it was a very wet day and he didn't fumble. Get ready for some exciting Swans footy in the next couple of years.
Imagine the headaches now for opposition coaches as we ramp up our midfield to another level.

[DamY]

Pretty much flawless. So impressed. So glad to have him.

[Auntie.Gerald]

two words

SMOOTH OPERATOR !

Welcome Tommy Gun.

[swans_premiers]

SwansTV: Tom Mitchell post match interview - SYDNEYSWANS.com.au (http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/video/2013-06-01/swanstv-tom-mitchell-post-match-interview)

[Auntie.Gerald]

one word

READY !!!

[swans_premiers]

Sam reid...

Great win tonight by the boys, shattered to not be out there! New man crush on Tommy Mitchell. Hope Tommy Walsh is ok. #goswans

[CureTheSane]

Was refreshing to see someone walk into the team and belong instantly.

Obviously had a good head on his shoulders and isn't too fazed by the big events.

[BillyRayCypress]

Who were we really waiting for to debut for us this year?

In my supercoach team and what a debut.

[ernie koala]

...And he's built like Luke Parker

[Aaron]

Worthy for rising star nomination this week - it will be a record? - less than 3 quarters to get 98 Dream team Point(ranked fifth of the team) and 87 Supercoach point , more than Watson's 85 DT and 73 SC !!

[Jeffers1984]

2 and a half quarters of brilliance from him...i think he had 3-5 score assists as well. Dat handballing!
what a gun debut

[Cressakel2]

What I like about Mitchell the most is he runs to the right spots most of the time. Brilliant debut. A few on here have noted his handballing, I thought his kicking was just as good.

Hopefully plays a full game next week. Playing high half forward or the other wing to Hanners.

[Ludwig]

You can't put Mitchell in the green vest again. He's just too good. Incredible handballing skills. What an addition to an already great midfield.

[dimelb]

Extraordinary debut. Looks like we have another Rising Star - I assume he's eligible.
And modest with it:
"I just followed the direction from the senior players who were great the whole game just positioning me where they wanted me to be." A bit more to it than that I think!

[Swansongster]

From memory his second or third touch was a goal assist and his first kick was a round-the-corner snap from a long way out that just missed. Another goal assist shortly after. So cool under pressure. So glad he's a Swan.

[Auntie.Gerald]

our lads better get used to being tagged :)

[Rod_]

Well done for a first up game (or part there of..)

Some serious in's to come back to the side soon... "Keeper "


Who would you drop to keep him in the side? Jude? Benny? or ?? Not best 22 when all players are fit, however super excited by the potential.

Not 110 % ready yet, but soon! Finals specialist??

Injuries may help his chances for more games..

Rod_

[liz]

I just thought that he looked like he belonged - he was composed, got to lots of contests and made great decisions. The precision and vision of his hand passing was well evident. I don't think anyone watching who didn't know it was his debut would have picked it for a moment.

[Auntie.Gerald]

you would guess Morton may struggle to keep his spot when Reid comes back and they will want to keep Tommy Mitchell

[royboy42]

Sportsbet were generously offering 150/1 about Tom for the Rising Star during Thursday after the swans had announced he was playing against EsS.
I couldn't resist..grabbed a bit.
This morning, they've reeled him into 10/1 3rd favourite.
Sorry to do a Tom Waterhouse, but so pleased to get one up on the bookies...now it's up to Mitch.

[Swansongster]

Well plucked Roy Boy. You are on serious overs there.

[mcs]

Well done for a first up game (or part there of..)

Some serious in's to come back to the side soon... "Keeper "


Who would you drop to keep him in the side? Jude? Benny? or ?? Not best 22 when all players are fit, however super excited by the potential.

Not 110 % ready yet, but soon! Finals specialist??

Injuries may help his chances for more games..

Rod_

I'm not convinced at all he isn't in the top 22 Rod. I know it was only one game, but sometimes you just know when someone belongs. And he does.

Also, on Saturday night he spent a lot of time playing as an outside midfielder/up forward. If you think he went well on Saturday, just wait till he gets more into the guts, then we will all see just how good he is.

It may be that he stays in for just a few games before going back to the ressies, but if he puts in a couple more performances like Saturday, then he won't be going anywhere if he stays fit.

[mcs]

our lads better get used to being tagged :)

The beauty is, and I think it was Ball on Gameday on Sunday that said it is: Our midfield is sooo good that you can tag one or two out of the game and others pop up and fill the void. :)

[Nico]

our lads better get used to being tagged :)

They can't tag all of them Gerry. Also not many clubs have forwards good enough to play defensively on Malceski and McVeigh.

[Auntie.Gerald]

agree
agree

more tongue in cheek after seeing Tommy Gun coming on the pitch and killing it too !

who do you mark up on ?

[Swannie1172]

"I just followed the direction from the senior players ...

Yeah very modest cause if you watched him closely, he actually did quite a bit of directing himself! With only a couple of quarters under his belt he was playing like a 200 gamer.

Yeah he's a gun ... and a son of a gun to boot! ;)

[On-Baller]

Have to agree with Matty Lloyds assesment of Mitchell,Lloyd twice in last few days has said Tom is the best decision maker he has seen come thru the AIS squads.Injuries permitting i wouldnt make him play reserves ever again.

[crackedactor]

"I just followed the direction from the senior players ...

Yeah very modest cause if you watched him closely, he actually did quite a bit of directing himself! With only a couple of quarters under his belt he was playing like a 200 gamer.

Yeah he's a gun ... and a son of a gun to boot! ;)I know one thing - I cannot remember a better debut from a kid (under 21). Not based on his stats but based on the conditions and having to face up to the mature harden bodies in the slippery wet conditions. The stats were 6 tackles (as much as anyone) and 9 goal assists!! that's is incredible. The RWO twitter person who got big odds about Mitchell winning the rising star should be very happy, cause I think he has a real chance.

[ugg]

9 score involvements not assists

[ernie koala]

Whitfield wins rising star nomination....He had 20 poss's and 1 goal, in a full game....And I'll bet he didn't have 9 score involvement's!

Mitchell must of been close.

- - - Updated - - -

Whitfield wins rising star nomination....He had 20 poss's and 1 goal, in a full game....And I'll bet he didn't have 9 score involvement's!

Mitchell must of been close.

[ugg]

They very rarely give it to first gamers unless they are close to BOG

[stellation]

Whitfield was good in that game and deserves the nomination, as ugg said they rarely give it to someone on debut and I think they like to see a body of work. Whitfield's young and slight, but in the games he's played at AFL level so far you can see why he was a #1 pick.

[magic.merkin]

Yeah Whitfield has been consistent all season.