Sydney Swans’ Alice Mitchell reflects on journey from bush footy to semi-final clash against Adelaide Crows

She felt her career was over before it had even started, however, Sydney Swans AFLW defender Alice Mitchell is “living the dream” ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster semi-final clash.

Alice Mitchell of the Sydney Swans warming up during round nine of the AFLW season. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images

She felt her career was over before it had even started.

But, Sydney Swans AFLW defender Alice Mitchell is “living the dream” ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster semi-final clash against the Adelaide Crows.

Having moved out west during the Covid pandemic, she re-found her love for the game while spending three years at the Gunnedah Bulldogs and playing “some of the best” footy she had ever played.

The Swans then announced it would be joining the AFLW with Mitchell saying it was “perfect timing”.

“I was in such a really good headspace for footy, I was probably the fittest and strongest I’d ever been,” she told this publication.

Alice Mitchell (L) and Aliesha Newman (R) celebrate victory after the Sydney Swans beat the Collingwood Magpies at Henson Park on October 29. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images

“I had my dad in my ear saying … you can do it and I was like I don’t know, I was so comfortable in Gunnedah … I was just so scared of change.”

However, Mitchell felt it was now or never, saying she didn’t want to have any future regrets about her playing days.

She starred throughout the Swans’ Summer Series and picked up a contract with the club ahead of the team’s inaugural 2022 AFLW season, but sustained an ACL injury in the second pre-season training session.

She described what followed as a “roller coaster”, but “something I was so grateful for”, telling herself there was “two roads” she could go down.

“I can go down the road of let’s feel sorry for myself … [and] just giving up or I cannot let this injury defeat me and work my arse off,” she said.

“As hard it was … I had amazing support around me at the club, they really looked after me and I was able to come back a lot fitter and stronger.”

Alana Woodward, Aliesha Newman and Alice Mitchell of the Sydney Swans sing the team song after beating the Gold Coast Suns in the quarter-finals. Photo: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

And Mitchell’s ever-present motto “everything happens for a reason” stayed true.

“Maybe I was good enough to play AFLW, but maybe I just wasn’t … in the right headspace, so I needed more time,” she said.

“And doing my ACL gave me all the time without the pressure … I was so much more ready to play … this season than probably where I was at last season.”

It proved to be a blessing in disguise with Mitchell helping the Swans on debut, to the club’s first ever AFLW victory against cross-town rivals Greater Western Sydney.

The “fairy tale” season didn’t stop there with the Swans sneaking into the finals in eighth place.

“We’re just loving our footy at the moment … we’ve got nothing to lose with no pressure,” she said.

“We’re proving everyone wrong week by week … I think it’s just a credit to how hard we’ve been working throughout the season.”

As she prepares for the biggest game of her career, Mitchell paid tribute to the years of sacrifice made by her parents, taking her around the country to develop her game.

“This is just repayment to them to just say thank you … they’re on this journey with me” she said.