New Bomber Mitch Hibberd is not going to let second a AFL chance slip

Former North Melbourne utility Mitch Hibberd has been given a second chance at AFL level thanks to the AFL rookie draft and he is now on a mission to prove his old club wrong.

Mitch Hibberd is driven to show North Melbourne made a huge blue in delisting the former Clarence recruit after being given a second chance by Essendon.

After being taken with pick 33 in the 2015 draft, he was delisted at the end of the 2018 season but forced his way back into the AFL system with a stunning year for VFL club Williamstown, making the VFL team of the year and being the Seagulls’ best player in the grand final.

The once hardcore Kangaroos fan was selected with pick 10 by the Bombers in today’s rookie draft and is now out to take vengeance on North, which he says played him out of position during his time in the blue and white stripes.

“It is not my only motivation, but they delisted me and that hurts,” Hibberd, 23, said.

“For me I want to make a point and prove to everyone they made the wrong decision.

“I went a way to proving that this year but I’ve still got a lot of AFL football left in me and I plan on proving everyone wrong.”

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Mitchell Hibberd says he was played out of position by the Kangaroos and is out to prove that club made the wrong decision when it delisted him. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

Under Seagulls coach, former Hawthorn premiership player Andy Collins, Williamstown remodelled Hibberd from defender to a midfield brute — an obvious hole in the Bombers’ playing list.

“I played a lot of defence when I was there, lining up on taller guys,” he said of his four AFL games with the Roos.

“When I went to Williamstown we spoke about me playing as a winger and eventually I moved inside.

“I love the physical side of the game so I think a big-bodied inside mid is where I play my best footy.”

Mitch Hibberd starred for Williamstown in this year’s VFL season and is out to ”prove a lot of people wrong” with his second chance in the AFL. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

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Unlike 2015 when he was first drafted, he is far more ready for an AFL career now.

“I’m probably a late developer so it is probably the best thing for me to be drafted now as a 23-year-old where I’m ready to make an impact,” Hibberd said.

“I missed a lot of footy and I was playing catch-up a lot when I was first drafted.

“I am speechless, it is so hard to get drafted once, let alone twice and I plan to prove a lot of people wrong and make the most of this second chance.

“When I saw my name and Essendon and I couldn’t be happier.

“It is such a good footy club and such a big footy club, I’m over the moon.”

He was one of four Tasmanians selected in the rookie draft along with Matt McGuinness (North Melbourne), Mitch O’Neill (West Coast) and Hugh Dixon (Fremantle).