ONE YOUNG player who shone at the recent NAB AFL U16 tournament in west Sydney was a young West Australian midfielder with a Sydney Swans link.
 
Tom Mitchell just happens to be the son of 170-game former Swan Barry Mitchell.

The 16-year-old was a standout for WA and was awarded his state's MVP for the tournament.

The 179cm midfielder caught the eye with his dash and skill and averaged more than 32 disposals per game against South Australia, Vic Country and Vic Metro, racking up 40 possessions against SA.

Tom's father Barry played for the Swans between 1984 and 1992, wearing the number 10 jersey with the Bloods.

He won the club's Bob Skilton Medal for best and fairest player in 1991 and the E.J. Whitten Medal in State of Origin football and All-Australian selection in the same year.

Mitchell took over as an assistant coach (midfield) at Fremantle in late 2008 after previously being an assistant at Carlton and in the VFL.

He said he was pleased with his son's development but wasn't getting too carried away.  

"I was proud of course. Going to these championships you never really know what the standard is going to be like so it's pleasing," he told sydneyswans.com.au.

It's understood Mitchell could be in line for a spot in the 30-player AIS-AFL squad to be picked later this year, according to Swans manager of player personnel Kinnear Beatson.

"Tom was a standout performer. He's highly skilled, has clean hands, vision and awareness," Beatson said.

He said Mitchell was both a good in-and-under player and a fast-running outside midfielder.

"He's under serious consideration for a spot at the AIS," added Beatson.

Mitchell is not eligible for the draft until 2011, when he is open to being taken by the Swans under the father/son rule.