Sam Mitchell says he’s happy to help out teammates and Hawthorn with move to West Coast

SAM Mitchell was happy to “take one” for his teammates and help Hawthorn out of a bind in a move that perfectly suits his family and his football future.

SAM Mitchell was happy to “take one” for his premiership teammates and help Hawthorn out of a bind in pursuing a move to West Coast that perfectly suits his family and his football future.

Mitchell revealed to the Herald Sun full details about how the shock move was first mooted to him by Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson, how excited he was by the challenge and how West Coast was the only club he would have considered joining in such a role.

And the 34-year-old said he briefly feared the secret talks may have been scuttled after he won a fifth Peter Crimmins Medal last Saturday.

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Fifteen years after being drafted by Hawthorn at pick 36, the star midfielder was officially traded to West Coast for pick 88, with the clubs swapping two other draft picks as a result.

“I feel like I am doing the right thing for Hawthorn,” Mitchell said. “I don’t like reading stories about Luke Breust getting pushed out, or Will Langford getting pushed out, or Liam Shiels ... If I can take one for all of them, I am glad about that.”

“I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t helping me, of course. Hawthorn came to me with it. I have helped them out of bit of a bind, but I am also bettering my opportunities at the same time. I am very excited to go to a really successful club that I think I can help.”

Four-time premiership Hawks (from left) Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Grant Birchall and Luke Hodge. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“It’s a one-year contract. Simmo (West Coast coach Adam Simpson) and I are similar enough to make a mutual decision at the end of next year whether I am still going pretty well and I go again (in 2018), or if I have slowed down even more, if that’s possible.”

Mitchell had been in regular dialogue with Simpson about an assistant coaching role since the Eagles coach was first appointed in late 2013. It all centred on a post-playing career.

That changed when Clarkson contacted Mitchell in the lead-up to this year’s Brownlow Medal, requesting a meeting. Mitchell, who already had a one-year deal with the Hawks for 2017, figured it meant spending more time at halfback.

@dirksdt @traderadio we have. Just used this image for something different pic.twitter.com/bA2z5YCNTy

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) October 14, 2016

“He (Clarkson) ended up coming to my place at two o’clock on Brownlow day ... the kids were inside and (wife) Lyndall was having her makeup done,” he said.

“He didn’t want anyone to hear it (the discussion), including the kids. He was like ‘I know you want to go into this (coaching), and it is out of left field, but would it be something you would be interested in now instead of next year or the year after.”

“I had no idea it was coming.”

Sam Mitchell and Alastair Clarkson embrace. Picture: David Caird

But Mitchell and his wife were both excited by the prospect of the move to Perth, with the shift coming at the right stage of their lives, with their three young children.

“If I had’ve said no, it would have been over in five minutes,” he said. ”Or if Lyndall had said ‘we are not ready for it’, we wouldn’t have done it.

“When she said to me, ‘If it all fell over, would you be relieved or disappointed?’. My instant thought was disappointed.”

Oh my goodness Sam Mitchell roving to @RealNaitanui he's bloody play another 5 years #pick88 #getstuffed

— Shane Crawford (@SCrawf9) October 14, 2016

Sam Mitchell deal completed, as we told you in @theheraldsun this morning. Hawks get picks 52, 70 & 88. Eagles receive 54 & 72. @superfooty

— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) October 13, 2016

Clarkson texted him three words — “explore or park” — a few hours later. Mitchell instantly sent a reply: “Explore.”

Mitchell admitted it was difficult accepting the best-and-fairest award, knowing his time at Hawthorn was effectively over.

“It was awkward,” he said. “But when I won it, I didn’t want it to change what had happened. I hoped it wouldn’t put too much pressure on Hawthorn (to stop the discussions).”

“But to be honest, the talks with West Coast were already too far along to change anything.”

The four-time premiership player sent Hawthorn fans a message yesterday before flying out on holidays with his family ahead of what is now a very different preseason campaign.