Time On: Collingwood premiership star Tom Mitchell “ready to go” after seven games in VFL

Collingwood premiership star Tom Mitchell says “it will be pretty rewarding” if he’s finally able to break back into the senior team after a foot injury kept him on the sidelines for 14 months.

Time On is your wrap up of all the footy gossip and banter.

‘Ready to go’: Tom Mitchell eyes another shot at premiership glory

Collingwood premiership star Tom Mitchell says he’s “ready to go” after seven games in the VFL on the comeback from a foot injury.

The midfielder, who has been sidelined for more than 14 months, said he’s in top shape.

“I’m feeling great, haven’t missed a beat for a fair while now and just waiting for an opportunity,’’ Mitchell said.

“I’m in the best physical condition I’ve been maybe ever in my AFL career so I’m ready whenever I’m required.

“Body feels amazing and form is strong so I’m ready to go.

“It has been a journey the last 14.5 months so it’ll be pretty rewarding if I can try and break into the team and contribute to the team that’s already going so well this year. I’d love to be a part of it.”

Patrick Cripps and Tom Mitchell are taking part in a new podcast. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Mitchell said he’s kept mentally strong through the help of his off-field interests.

Today he’s releasing a vodcast/podcast episode of new AFL series On The Inside alongside fellow Brownlow medallists, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Brisbane’s Lachie Neale.

It’s produced and presented by the trio who are behind the success of Ball Magnets.

“These conversations probably started at the end of last year with the AFL and Gatorade and we’ve found a project we’re really passionate about,’’ Mitchell said. “We think it’s good timing and we’ll do one every week in the lead up to finals.

Patrick Cripps and Tom Mitchell. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“Early in my career I was so footy focused and then when things went pear shaped I didn’t have anything outside of footy to lean on to get through from a mental point of view. I feel like in life now, I’m very well balanced. And I love what we do together, Crippa and Lachie and I with Ball Magnets, and Josh Giddey as well in the basketball space, he’s involved with us.

“I love doing podcasting and creating skills and drills and content to help people out there who love their footy and sport and it’s a real passion of mine that I want to pursue further into the future once footy is done as well.”

Buddy doubles down on Michael Voss sacking call

Buddy Franklin has doubled down on his prediction that Michael Voss won’t see out the season. But he said he wants to see some fight and spirit from the players for their coach.

“I think, yeah, they’ll be disappointed with that (last week),’’ Franklin said on his podcast, The Buddy & Shane Show with Shane Crawford.

“I think that’s what they would have wanted, to go out and play a lot better than what they did. And then to sort of dish up what they did in that first play three quarters was really disappointing.

Buddy Franklin believes Michael Voss will be sacked before the end of the season. Picture: Supplied

“And I’m expecting a big response this week, no doubt. They’re back on the MCG against Collingwood, which is going to be a huge match up. So I’m expecting them to come out this week and play for Vossie, you’d think. They’re going to have to, because if they don’t get a response …”

Crawford hit back at some critics of Franklin’s opinion, namely Mick Malthouse and Tony Shaw.

“I just think, let Buddy talk if he wants to talk,’’ Crawford said.

“Do not go into your shell, whatever you do. If you do, I’m going to have to punch you in the head.”

‘Fight night’: Cornes set to face off with clubs who banned him

Kane Cornes will come face-to-face with the two teams who have banned him on Thursday night — North Melbourne and the Bulldogs — in what has been dubbed ‘fight night’.

The polarising commentator joked about the situation on Monday morning but it will be interesting to see where he’s placed during the broadcast.

Last month Cornes and Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge had a tense pre-game confrontation at GMHBA Stadium.

Kane Cornes and Luke Beveridge clashed before a game last month.

Cornes said he nodded and acknowledged ‘Bevo’ and it wasn’t received well.

“It was something along the lines of, ‘You’ve got the nerve to say that’, and I just said, ‘What, I can’t say hello?’. Then he turned around again and started to go again and that’s when he was dragged away,’’ Cornes said.

At the end of April the Kangaroos banned Cornes from talking to its players and coaches after his criticism of the coach Alastair Clarkson and young gun Harry Sheezel.

David King brought up the potential ‘fight night’ with Cornes on their SEN breakfast show Monday morning.

“Are you nervous? Big week this week?’’ King said. “I’ve had this week circled in my calendar for at least six weeks. Fight night, Thursday night, you’re unpopular everywhere. You can’t go into the Kangas rooms, you can’t go into the Dogs rooms, you can’t stand in the safe space. I’m calling this Corn on the Concourse — you can’t even go in the venue.”

Cornes said he wouldn’t shy away from his Channel 7 role.

“I’m actually feeling really good. I’ll be there’’ he said. “But I’ve hired some security,’’ he added. “I’m safe, I feel really good about the protection.”

Footy media merry-go-round continues

The footy bye/ time off media merry-go-round this week has Tony Jones and Tom Morris on leave with Sam McClure on Wimbledon duties.

Jones was replaced as host on the Sunday Footy Show by Nathan Brown with the panel making light of his absence but still dodging the topic of Wimbledon which Jones is not at.

Tony Jones was absent from the Sunday Footy Show on Sunday.

McClure is hosting the tennis coverage while Morris is on holiday in Singapore and Jones is off for a week too.

Brown said on Sunday in the host’s chair: “You might see a different sort of panel, TJ isn’t here today, he’s on a bit of a holiday, rest and relaxation and we hope he has a great day.”

‘Absolutely staggered’: Former Swans star hits out at old club

Former Sydney star turned commentator Ryan O’Keefe hasn’t held back on his former club — he slammed them again for mouthing off at the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

Even before the match began Tom Papley was getting stuck into Sam Darcy with spotfires breaking out all night.

Sydney's Tom Papley celebrates kicking a goal. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore said post-match: “It was a tough game of footy. They came out straight away, Papley tried to start a fight as usual.”

O’Keefe said on ABC radio he was shocked by the tactics.

“I’m absolutely staggered you’d be opening your mouth after the Grand Final performances you (Sydney) put in.”

It’s not the first time this season O’Keefe has been critical of his former club this season, saying they weren’t up to AFL standard after their narrow loss to Brisbane in the Grand Final rematch and also labelling their skills horrendous after the 90 point loss to Adelaide.

The Bulldogs had the last laugh with the nine point win at the SCG where the surface was described as disgraceful.

Originally published as Time On: Collingwood premiership star Tom Mitchell “ready to go” after seven games in VFL