Tom Mitchell in Brownlow form but GWS coach Leon Cameron wary his side is only ‘just going’

HAWK Tom Mitchell is in Brownlow Medal form. Coach Alastair Clarkson paid tribute to the star, while Leon Cameron knows his team is “only just going”.

Tom Mitchell and the Hawks celebrate a goal against Greater Western Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

THE Brownlow buzz is all about Patrick Dangerfield versus Dustin Martin but hold onto your betting tickets because Hawk hero Tom Mitchell is quietly staking his claim for “Charlie”.

The AFL’s recruit of the year racked up a game-high 39 possessions in Saturday’s draw with Greater Western Sydney in Launceston.

It was the 12th game in a row that Mitchell reached 30 disposals or more for the match — an AFL record and a string of performances the umpires could not overlook.

Not many teammates would have taken votes off the former Sydney player, which makes Mitchell a chance to snag the AFL’s top individual prize.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admires Mitchell’s low-key approach to getting a ton of touches — 39 against the Giants of which 36 of them came in the first three quarters.

“He’s been very influential for us,” Clarkson said.

“That midfield battle was pivotal today.

Alastair Clarkson was happy with his midfield group. Picture: Getty Images

“If GWS get control of the ball through there, then they are going to give their strong forwards, particularly their tall forwards, enough supply to win the game.

“But Mitchell, and McEvoy, Smith, Burgoyne, the whole crew through there acquitted themselves really well in that part of the ground.”

Hawthorn led by 21 points early in the last term and the GWS kicked five unanswered goals to grab a 13-point lead.

“To be two goals down late in the game and for us to keep fighting it out and to find a way to draw the game…the game goes for a second longer and we win,” Clarkson said.

“We won a lot of key indicators _ inside 50s, contested ball, which hasn’t been great for us. We were pleased with a lot of aspects of our game.

“We’ve got a lot of younger players at the moment, particularly in our back end. It’s nearly unrecognisable our backline from what we’ve out on the park in the past few years.

“It’s just enormous learning and great growth for those blokes to get that exposure opposition.

“The Giants are going to feature deep into September and we were able to serve it up to them and they walk away lucky to get the draw I’d reckon.

“We’re excited about where these young kids are going to take us.”

GWS coach Leon Cameron. Picture: Getty Images

GWS COACH LEON CAMERON — ‘WE’RE JUST GOING’

IT’S six minutes that will haunt Leon Cameron for the rest of his career and if he had that time again, maybe the Giants would not have had their second consecutive AFL draw.

The Greater Western Sydney coach was hurting after the Giants’ thriller against Hawthorn at UTas Stadium in Launceston because the wound was still raw from the draw with Geelong seven days earlier.

“It’s fun, isn’t it? Two in a row. It’s very unique,” Cameron said.

“We had a pretty good second quarter, a pretty good last quarter. They dominated the third, so it ebbed and flowed.

“But to be 13 points up with six minutes to go, to have all the momentum and then to come away with the draw, it’s disappointing.”

Cameron was trying not to show it, but the second draw cut deep.

“With 12 seconds to go, a centre bounce, do you play for a win or do you play for a draw?” he said.

“The way we played, we probably played for a draw.”

The Giants have had one win in the past month and yesterdays draw gifted top spot to a Adelaide, which has won three of its past four.

“We know as a footy club we’re just going, we’re just going at the moment,” Cameron said.

“Whether it’s because there’s a number of players who are not playing to the level they need to be playing at, or the injuries we’ve had throughout the year.

“The end result is that when you play inconsistently like we are at the moment, and that’s what’s happening, we’re up for a quarter and down for a quarter, you are going to be in these really tight games.

“We need to find a way to find a lot more consistency because it’s clearly not happening, especially over the past few weeks _ you could probably argue over the past six or seven weeks.

“It’s good to get two points but disappointing we’ve given up a 13-poiont lead with six minutes to go.”

Originally published as Tom Mitchell in Brownlow form but GWS coach Leon Cameron wary his side is only ‘just going’