Tom Mitchell - Can GWS take him

[pig@fullforward]

Been reading that he's a standout at the AIS Academy, and that he caught the eye of Sheedy, can they take him as one of their 17 year olds meaning we cant have him, or does father son rule negate that?

[COBHC]

I bloody hope that the father-son rule over rides any attempts of GWS snaring him, otherwise, the AFL's priority is skewed.

[hammo]

For starters Mitchell is only 16 and not eligible to enter the draft until 2011.

I don't know enough about the GWS concessions to know if they can pick him next year, but it will be up to Mitchell whether he wants to take up a GWS contact. GWS can't force him to sign for them unless he was picked in the national draft (in which case, the father son pick has preference)

There are a number of 17yos who rejected Gold Coast in order to enter the draft.

It's a safe bet that Mitchell will play in Sydney, just a question of which club. The Swans are making a big effort so hopefully sanity prevails!

Knowing the cunning of Sheedy, he will probably offer Barry Mitchell a coaching position.

[DST]

Been reading that he's a standout at the AIS Academy, and that he caught the eye of Sheedy, can they take him as one of their 17 year olds meaning we cant have him, or does father son rule negate that?

There would be a chance, but if you were putting a figure on it, it would be less than 5%.

We are aware of how good he is, we have had him over to the club to have a look around and do some training and his dad played for the club and still has strong ties.

I would be shocked if he elected not to go Father & Son and accepted a contract with GWS or put himself in the draft.

But in the end, it will be his choice.

DST

[707]

If he'chooses to come to Sydney (the city) then I couldn't imagine him accepting an offer from GWS over an offer from the Swans who, through his father, he has an affinity with.

Obviously the Swans will bring him over to Sydney at various stages in the next two years to strengthen that bond.

Are there any other father-son prospects on the horizon?

[Steve]

You would think we're in pole position but you never know. When our ex-players (particularly from the 80's and early 90's) finished up many left Sydney so their kids didn't necessarily grow up with the same affinity with our club as, for example, has happened at Geelong.

A guy like Barry Mitchell has moved around and coached at a few clubs, so I wouldn't be taking it for granted that Tom has always had a burning passion to play for the Swans.

It seems he will in effect have the choice b/w GWS and the Swans - accept our father/son offer or go into the draft where he'd be taken with one of the early picks GWS will have.

[Rod_]

Didn't the Swans invite him up late last year to expose him to the club. I would suggest that the PR machine is well advanced.

And if not,WAKE UP.

Cheers

Rod_

[swansrob]

Here's the article about him training with the group

Mitchell a star in the making - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club