Tom Mitchell traded from Sydney Swans to Hawthorn

IT COULD be a case of Out: Mitchell, In: Mitchell at Hawthorn after the Hawks struck a deal for Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell.

Tom Mitchell is now a Hawk. Picture: Tim Carrafa

IT COULD be a case of Out: Mitchell, In: Mitchell at Hawthorn after the Hawks struck a deal for Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell.

On the same day it emerged four-time premiership player Sam Mitchell is likely to join West Coast, Hawthorn and Sydney agreed to a deal to send a 23-year-old replacement to Waverley.

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In exchange, Sydney receives Hawthorn’s pick 14 in the draft. The clubs have also agreed to swap picks later in the draft — they will be formalised next week but Mitchell can pack his bags.

“We are excited to have an in principle deal done with the Sydney Swans for Tom Mitchell to join the Hawks for the 2017 season and beyond,” Hawthorn recruiting manager Graham Wright said.

“Tom has had a fantastic season for the Swans, particularly in the second half of the year.

“He’s a high quality person and at only 23 years of age has plenty of football ahead of him.

“Tom has the flexibility to play multiple positions but we believe he’ll primarily play as an inside midfielder.

“We’d also like to thank the Sydney Swans for their professional approach to getting this deal done.”

Tom Mitchell was one of Sydney’s best players in the Grand Final. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Mitchell, the son of former Swan and Carlton star Barry Mitchell, has played 63 games for the Swans.

He has just completed the best season of his career but has been squeezed out by salary cap pressures on a star-studded list.

“We’re pleased to have reached agreement with Hawthorn and this deal will enable us to get some terrific young talent through the door,” Swans football manager Tom Harley said.

“Although we are disappointed that Tom has chosen to leave, once he made his intentions clear we were determined to achieve a fair trade for him.

“We would like to thank Tom for his contribution to our football club and wish him well for the future.”

He is Hawthorn’s second recruit of the player movement period after Richmond forward Ty Vickery signed as a free agent on Monday.

The Hawks will now turn their attention to negotiations for Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara.

Originally published as Tom Mitchell traded from Sydney Swans to Hawthorn