SuperCoach 2015: Can we trust Tom Mitchell?

IT’S a SuperCoach stampede — but can Sydney’s Tom Mitchell live up to the hype? PLUS SUPERCOACHES BOX PODCAST

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 02: Tom Mitchell of the Swans looks upfield during the round five AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs at SCG on May 2, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

LET’S call it the SuperCoach Stampede.

People falling over themselves to trade in the man who would take them to glory.

That man? Sydney’s Tom Mitchell.

Mitchell’s 114 against the Western Bulldogs and 125 against Melbourne in his first two appearances of 2015 have sparked a massive rush for the left-footer.

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Throw in a juicy price of $405,600, forward eligibility and Jesse Hogan reaching his ceiling and you have the recipe for a SuperCoach stampede. As of Thursday afternoon Mitchell had been introduced to more than 21,0

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00 sides. Expect that to skyrocket further before the Swans play on Saturday night.

But if you can manage to stand still amid the crush, you may wonder whether this is fool’s gold.

It’s easy to forget that this is a player who has been frustratingly cast to the periphery for much of his young career — sometimes because of injury and sometimes because he plays for one of the most talent-laden sides in the comp.

Mitchell played four ordinary games to open last season (all below 100) before he was floored by a bad ankle injury. He returned to rack up 29 possessions (13 contested), six clearances and 13 tackles in Round 23, but alarmingly that wasn’t enough for him to hold his spot.

Of course, the fantasy season doesn’t include AFL finals, but the fact that sort of performance didn’t save him is concerning.

Yes, Isaac Heeney is out for 4-6 weeks with a knee, but the Swans midfield is deeper than the Pacific. Mitchell has played only 22 games in three-and-a-bit years. There’s no doubting he’s a super talent and looks a more mature prospect this season, but I don’t know if we can trust him. Actually, I just don’t know if we can trust coach John Longmire.

For all his wondrous talent, it’s hard to escape the feeling Mitchell be one of the first sacrificed when the Swans next drop a game. And it also goes without saying that surely Mitchell can’t maintain a 119.5 average.

Tom Mitchell is tackled by two GWS players.

Bottom line: Is Mitchell underpriced? Yes. But will he be a top-six forward by seasons end? Unlikely.

Don’t listen to those who say you’ve missed the boat on Brendon Goddard. Yes, the Essendon veteran went up 29k last week, but he is still 12k cheaper than he was before the season started

You’re still getting a good deal on a player who is a proven, reliable SuperCoach performer. Remarkably, “BJ” has not averaged less than 100 in a season since way back in 2007 when he went at 90. Consider the extra spend insurance.

Without injury, Goddard will finish among the best half dozen SuperCoach forwards. You couldn’t say that about Mitchell with the same certainty.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2015: Can we trust Tom Mitchell?