One of the club’s six AFL debutants in 2013, Mitchell broke through when he played his first senior game as the substitute in the club’s round 10 win over Essendon at the SCG and then went on to play all but two games for the remainder of the year.
The 20-year-old averaged 19.2 disposals and 4.7 tackles per game in 2013 and earned an AFL Rising Star Nomination for his 31-disposal, 10-tackle performance against Adelaide in round 11 at AAMI Stadium.
While an ankle injury in the Swans’ semi-final against Carlton cut his season short, Mitchell told sydneyswans.com.au he had surpassed all of his own expectations this season.
How would you sum up your year in 2013?
I was really happy to manage a senior game and hold my spot when I broke into the team. Overall, to make my debut this year I was reasonably happy, and although it didn’t finish the way I would have liked it to finish, overall I’m pretty happy.
You must have been pleased with how consistent you were this season and in the finals; was that one of your highlights?
Having missed the pre-season, I had to do a lot of work to try and get a senior game and it did take me a bit of time. I had to string a few games together in the reserves and build up my match fitness, and I was able to do that, and then from there on I just wanted to grab my opportunity with both hands and stay in the team.
What are some of the areas you think you improved this year?
I think I definitely needed to improve my fitness. Not having done many pre-seasons, I definitely needed to get some miles into my legs, so while the boys were playing the first few rounds, I was able to do a lot of running on the track and build that fitness up.
I was also able to learn a different role playing up forward, which was something new to me and I’m still working at that to try to improve that side of my game and with the help of Henry Playfair, he helped me improve a lot in that area.
Who was your mentor this year and how did he help you this season?
Nick Smith was my player mentor. He’s a great support and he’s a great leader, is in the leadership group and he was awesome. He was always there for someone to talk to and he sets a great example around the club, so I try to follow his example.
What was it like to earn a Rising Star nomination this year?
I was pretty happy to receive that honour. To be named alongside the likes of some of the great players who were named, such as Jaeger O’Meara who won the award, was really humbling. You don’t really go out to try to receive those honours, but if they come along they’re always nice.
It was disappointing to miss the preliminary final with an injury. How is the ankle coming along?
The ankle is good. It wasn’t a great way to finish the year but I had surgery a few weeks ago and that went really well and I’m just in the moonboot now, and it’s recovering nicely. Hopefully I can be back running soon.
How has your injury impacted your off-season plans?
I did have a Bali trip booked with a lot of the boys but I’ve had to can that, so I’ll be keeping things pretty low key and I’ll go up to the Sunshine Coast and to Perth and then down to Echuca in country Victoria, so I’ve got a bit on still, which is nice.
When you do get back up and running, what do you hope to work on this pre-season?
Once again, I think I would still love to improve my running so hopefully when my ankle heals I can get out there and try and do as much running as I can.
