Pies’ gun exposes the degree of his injuries prior to the Grand Final
Tom Mitchell confesses he was tormented by a back problem during Collingwood’s premiership run.
TOM MITCHELL has revealed that he nearly had to pull out of Collingwood’s preliminary final before going on to play a major role in the club’s premiership success.
In Saturday’s Grand Final, the prolific midfielder limited Brisbane star and fellow Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale’s influence while also finding plenty of ball himself, ending with 24 disposals, seven clearances, and a game-high 13 tackles.
However, his spot in the Magpies’ flag bid was jeopardized when he injured his back before the team’s penultimate game of the season.
“I did it actually in the warm-up before the preliminary final (against Greater Western Sydney),” Mitchell stated to AAP.
“It was a toss-up whether I’d take the field in the final minute there, just before that game.”
“The next morning, I drew up a bit ginger and had an injection right away.”
“It’s all part of the game.” Everyone has little injuries, and you just have to find a way to get through it.”
During Grand Final week, the 30-year-old, who will play in his 200th game early next season, leaned on his expertise.
He was always confident that he would be able to play for the Lions.
“As you get a little older, you learn to know what you can and can’t play with,” Mitchell stated.
“This is one of those things I thought I could manage and play with.”
Mitchell was a key off-season recruit for Collingwood, along with Norm Smith Medal winner Bobby Hill and unlucky forward Daniel McStay, who missed the Grand Final due to injury.
Mitchell was one of only four players this season – along with Josh Daicos, Isaac Quaynor, and Jack Crisp – to appear in every game for the Magpies, including two as a substitute.
“I just wanted to come in and play my role and play to my strengths,” he stated.
“Fly (Craig McRae) and the coaches were fantastic at supporting me and saying, ‘This is what we want from you.'”
“They had so much confidence in me to do it and I get a lot of belief in myself as well when you’ve got them in your corner.”
Mitchell, though, did not anticipate a premiership when he joined a side that improved from 17th in 2021 to a preliminary final in McRae’s first season as coach.
Mitchell was chosen by Sydney in 2013, a year after the club’s last premiership, and participated in the Swans’ 2016 Grand Final loss before joining Hawthorn from 2017 to 2022.
“You’re still pinching yourself,” Mitchell observed.
“Moments like right now, you never think anything like this could ever happen, so it’s pretty special.”
