Sam Mitchell is set to join West Coast after Hawthorn agree to swap of picks

SAM Mitchell will become an Eagle after Hawthorn and West Coast reached an agreement on one of the most remarkable trades in the game’s history.

Sam Mitchell has seemingly played his last game at Hawthorn.

CHAMPION midfielder Sam Mitchell will become an Eagle by the end of Friday after Hawthorn and West Coast reached an agreement on one of the most remarkable trades in the game’s history.

A reshuffling of draft picks between the two clubs will see the five-time best-and-fairest Hawk and four-time premiership player join West Coast as a player for one or two seasons, before embarking on an assistant coaching role under his close friend Adam Simpson.

While the paperwork has yet to be lodged with the AFL, it is understood the deal will be ratified on Friday after negotiations intensified in recent days.

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The trade bombshell, first revealed earlier this week, is almost certain to not involve any other players — or other clubs — and will be a stand-alone swapping of draft selections.

A few minor details are still being worked through, but it is understood all parties — the two clubs, as well as Mitchell and his wife, Lyndall — are pleased with the outcome.

The Mitchell trade is seen as a game-changer in terms of AFL list management strategy after his long-time coach Alastair Clarkson asked to meet him on the day of the Brownlow Medal for a discussion on his future.

Sam Mitchell with his wife Lyndall after winning his fifth Peter Crimmins Medal. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Sam Mitchell’s final game for Hawthorn was the semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

After initially being “blindsided” by Clarkson’s frank discussion centring on a possible win-win move to West Coast as part of a long-term move towards coaching, it is understood the 34-year-old star is very excited by the prospect of joining the Eagles.

Mitchell and his wife, Lyndall, are now preparing to move their young family — son, Smith, and twin daughters, Emmerson and Scarlett — to Perth to start the next phase of his career that will ultimately lead him towards a coaching future in 2018 or beyond.

“If the move is to West Coast, I’d be excited by the prospect, and I feel like I’ve done the right thing by Hawthorn if that’s what eventuates,” Mitchell told SEN on Tuesday.

“It’s the first time in my 15-year career, that I’ve ever been a chance to be involved in a trade, so it’s a bit awkward situation at the moment and I can’t jump into either camp.”

Sam Mitchell with fellow four-time premiership winners (from left) Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead, Grant Birchall and Luke Hodge. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Mitchell won the Hawks’ best-and-fairest last Saturday night, knowing he had almost certainly played his final game with Hawthorn. Only Leigh Matthews (eight) has won more club champion awards for Hawthorn than Mitchell.

He was holidaying with his family in New Zealand at the time the news broke about a likely trade, and has now had to reschedule some of his plans as he maps out what comes next.

The Hawks have been massively involved in the trade period so far with Sydney’s Tom Mitchell and Richmond’s Ty Vickery already joining the club, while still trying to secure a trade to claim Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara.