Hawthorn’s midfield set to be one of AFL’s most potent with inclusion of Tom Mitchell

While the dominant midfielder was away, the lesser lights played. Now, the return of Tom Mitchell to a Hawks engine room could give Alastair Clarkson a dynamic and dangerous midfield gang.

Tom Mitchell will add more potency to a midfield which grew in his absence. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

Hawthorn will next year look to add Tom Mitchell to a midfield that has grown significantly in his absence.

Mitchell, the Brownlow medallist and AFLPA MVP at the end of 2018, missed the entire 2019 season with a badly broken leg in what was seen as a huge blow to Alastair Clarkson’s side.

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But while Mitchell’s absence was keenly felt, his midfield teammates undoubtedly grew without him.

James Worpel won the best and fairest, Ricky Henderson had a career-best season as runner-up and Jaeger O’Meara finished third, looking more and more like the dynamic player that burst on the scene with Gold Coast.

Chad Wingard’s slow start to life at Hawthorn ended with half a dozen high-possession games and the promise of more midfield time in 2020.

James Worpel won Hawthorn’s best and fairest after a breakout year.

Ricky Henderson on the burst during his career-best 2019 campaign.

Tom Scully should also be better in his second season in brown and gold, Isaac Smith will hope for an injury-free run and Liam Shiels remains an underrated, but important, contributor.

Throw leading ballwinner Mitchell back in and you have the makings of a dangerous midfield combination.

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“Our midfield is going to be deeper and there’s a lot more guys who can step up and play a role for us through there. Hopefully that makes us a stronger side,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell averaged 35.3 disposals per game in 2018 and gathered 40 or more disposals in 11 matches — the most ever in a season.

He was the No. 1 clearance player in the competition in 2018 en route to a second consecutive best-and-fairest.

Tom Mitchell will add more potency to a midfield which grew in his absence. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

Mitchell denied his 12-month lay off had given him extra motivation, hinting that it wasn’t possible.

“I’ve always tried to work as hard as I can and I’ve never found it too difficult to be motivated,” he said.

“But I think after a year off you want to see if you are still capable of playing at the top level.”

Are you?

“I hope so. I don’t know yet, we’ll wait and see.

“I’m not sure what level of performance I’ll be able to get to … but I’m motivated to not only get the best out of myself, but also the best out of this team.

“Let’s see how far we can push this year.”

Originally published as Hawthorn’s midfield set to be one of AFL’s most potent with inclusion of Tom Mitchell