Sam Mitchell leaves Hawthorn Hawks for West Coast Eagles in stunning AFL trade
Updated
Hawthorn's four-time premiership player Sam Mitchell will wear the colours of the West Coast Eagles in 2017 following a remarkable trade between the two clubs.
Mitchell won Hawthorn's best and fairest award for the fifth occasion earlier this month, but he will now head west to link up with the Eagles next season.
The Hawks will receive picks 52, 70 and 88 in next month's national draft in exchange for Mitchell, while the Eagles claim picks 54 and 72 as part of the deal.
Mitchell said he was relishing the opportunity to join the Eagles and was thankful to both clubs for facilitating the move.
"The fact the process was so smooth and seamless shows the level of professionalism and respect from all parties," he said in an Eagles statement.
"The list is a really exciting one. I'm really looking forward to getting on the training track with some of their young up-and-coming players."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson paid tribute to Mitchell, highlighting the respect he earned from his team-mates while at the club.
"Sam has made an invaluable contribution to Hawthorn Football Club over the past 15 years," he said in a Hawks statement.
"As a past captain, 300-game player and a four-time premiership player, Sam has cemented himself as a decorated servant of our club.
"He is very popular member amongst players."
It is one of the more momentous AFL trades in recent history and it came as a shock when Mitchell first spoke about the potential of such a move earlier this week.
The 34-year-old Mitchell passed the 300-match milestone during the 2016 season and it could be argued he produced career-best form ahead of winning his fifth Peter Crimmins Medal.
He captained the Hawks to their 2008 premiership, which was the club's first in 17 years, and also played in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 flag victories.
Mitchell will now play under Eagles coach Adam Simpson, who worked with the midfielder when he was an assistant to Clarkson at the Hawks from 2010 to 2013.
Hawks list manager Graham Wright said a key reason behind the move to the Eagles was to help prepare Mitchell for an AFL senior coaching career.
"Sam has always envisaged coaching in his future and a move to West Coast will enable him to make that first step," he said.
"We are a club that encourages growth and development and we are happy to help facilitate Sam's wishes."
Mitchell ends a decorated Hawks career
Mitchell was chosen by the Hawks with the number 36 pick in the 2001 draft and made his senior debut the following season.
He was a key member of the Hawks' rebuild when Clarkson took over as coach ahead of the 2005 season and the club returned to the finals in 2007 following a six-year absence.
Mitchell lifted the AFL premiership trophy alongside Clarkson when the Hawks beat Geelong in the 2008 grand final before relinquishing the captaincy to Luke Hodge at the end of the 2010 season.
He won All-Australian honours while at the Hawks in 2011, 2013 and 2015 and finished equal second in the 2012 Brownlow Medal count.
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, subiaco-6008
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