Tom Mitchell says the lure of a Victorian homecoming won’t be enough to prise him from Sydney

IN-DEMAND Sydney ball magnet Tom Mitchell says the lure of a Victorian homecoming won’t be enough to prise him from the Swans.

Tom Mitchell. Picture: Mark Evans

IN-DEMAND Sydney ball magnet Tom Mitchell says the lure of a Victorian homecoming won’t be enough to prise him from the Swans.

Mitchell’s two-year contract expires this season, drawing out a swarm of potential suitors keen to secure his services.

Hawthorn is circling the 23-year-old in a bid to future-proof its ageing midfield, while Carlton has long attempted to lure him to one of his father Barry’s former clubs. West Coast is also believed to want him.

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Asked whether he wanted to stay at Sydney, Mitchell told the Herald Sun: “Yeah, definitely. I think it’s been proven the club has been successful for a long period of time and hopefully we can continue that this year. There’s some exciting times ahead.

“I did grow up in Melbourne and it is great to come down and see family and friends every time I’m down here. I love coming down here, but at the same time I’ve got a lot of great mates in Sydney and I enjoy my time up there too.”

Mitchell and Sydney were close to securing a new deal in June before a disagreement over terms prompted both parties to put talks on hold.

Mitchell’s manager Phil Mullen earlier this month said club and player were “not too far away” in their estimation of the player’s value, which industry figures yesterday put at $500,000-$550,000 a season on the open market.

Tom Mitchell celebrates kicking a goal earlier in the year. Picture: Getty Images

Mullen said the “ball is in Sydney’s court” and argued the Swans had to increase their offer to guarantee keeping the ball-winning left-footer.

Mitchell said he was determined to focus on the Swans’ march to September.

“I don’t try to let it affect me too much,” he said.

“That stuff will take care of itself at the end of the year and I’m just happy to be part of a team that’s in good form at the moment and heading towards finals.”

Mitchell is averaging 27.6 possessions and 6.3 tackles a game in a career-best campaign that has seen him perform midfield, forward and run-with roles with aplomb.

“You’ve got to be able to adapt and play different roles in modern day footy. It’s important for all the mids to be able to play defensive roles, through the midfield and play forward. I think we’ve got good balance as a team,” he said.

The Swans are not expected to present a revised offer to Mitchell until they have a better idea of their total player payments for next year.

The retirements of Adam Goodes and Rhyce Shaw, and the imminent departure of Ted Richards will free up some salary cap space. But Lance Franklin is understood to be owed $1.2 million for each of the next two seasons before his remuneration rises again after that.

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Kurt Tippett has triggered a clause in his lucrative four-year deal that expired this year and is tied to the club until the end of 2018.

Mitchell is in his fifth season at Sydney after being drafted as a father-son selection in 2011.

Barry Mitchell is also at the club, working as an opposition analyst.