Mitchell, who suffered an ankle injury in last year’s semi final win over Carlton, was cheered on by both the players and coaches as he crossed the line at Lakeside Oval – and there was good reason for their response.
Mitchell’s strong showing in rehab, combined with some healthy competition in Wednesday’s run, saw the 20-year-old cut 30 seconds off his personal best in the three-kilometre time-trial.
The result came as a shock to the youngster given it was his first competitive time-trial since he joined the club.
“I actually got a bit of a surprise because the rehab players don’t usually do the three k-er until they’ve done a bit of running, but I got that surprise (on Wednesday),” Mitchell told SwansTV.
“I did the three k-er, which is something I haven’t done with the group since I’ve been at the club because of injuries, but I was pretty pleased with how I went.
“I managed to shave about 30 seconds off my time, which coming out of the rehab group I was pretty pleased with especially because I haven’t done a lot of running.
“It helped running with the group because I’ve never really done that and I had people to compete with and I had to try and hold on, so overall I was pretty happy since I haven’t done a whole lot of running.”
Pre-season hasn’t been a particularly happy time for Mitchell, who has been confined to the rehab group every year since he joined the club.
He battled a knee problem in his first pre-season with the club in 2012 and then battled a foot injury at the end of that season, which limited his preparations leading into 2013.
Despite the setbacks, Mitchell went on to be one of the Swans’ most impressive young players last season, which was exemplified in just his second AFL match, when he earned an AFL Rising Star nomination for his 31 disposals and 10 tackle performance against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in round 11.
He went on to play 14 games for the year, before his season ended abruptly in the semi final.
“After my injury at the end of the year where I did my ankle, I had season-ending surgery,” Mitchell said.
“Since then, I’ve had a lot of recovery time just to get the ankle right and I was on crutches and in a moon boot.
“I had a trip booked with a lot of the younger boys and we were going to Bali and I was disappointed to have to can that, but I had to do what was best for me and my footy.
“I just ended up resting up back home and had a pretty quiet holiday to bring myself back in as best shape as I could to be fit and running by the time training started again.”
Tom Mitchell finishes ahead of Zak Jones in Wednesday's three-kilometre time-trial
Mitchell is scheduled to remain in the rehab group for another fortnight before being eased back into the main group for team training in late January.
While rehab isn’t where he wants to be during this year’s pre-season program, Mitchell said he was confident his fitness was well ahead of where it was this time last season.
“I’ve been injured in every pre-season since I’ve been here, which has been frustrating, but this year I’m about a month ahead of where I was last year so hopefully that can hold me in good stead for this year,” Mitchell said.
“I completed some agility and sprints this week so I’m not far away and I’m really looking forward to getting back into the skill work.
“I’d obviously like to improve my fitness, so the next couple of months are going to be really important and hopefully my body is stronger and I can hold together and play even more games than I did last year.”
