Morton calls time on AFL career

[ShockOfHair]

I suspect it's a combination of him seeing the writing on the wall, with our forward line dominated by talls and midfielders, and losing a bit of desire. Goodes, Jetta, McGlynn,LRT and Reid out and he still can't get a game.

Anyway, I'll be replaying the Grand Final second quarter for years to come. I think when Morton kicked his second goal my head hit the delirium zone, so thanks for the memories Mitch.

[bondy]

The Swans are full of good blokes aren't they? Mitch is no exception. Here is a guy with a good head on his shoulders. Buckets of talent, but shelved personal ambitions for team ethos.

Will be missed.

[BeeEmmAre]

A big surprise, but not a surprise, if you know what I mean.

The vast improvement of the next breed has made it hard for Mitch to get back into the team, and it's only going to get harder.

Will we see him again? I don't know, but he will always be in the history books as a Premiership Legend of the greatest club of all, and nobody can ever take that away from him.

Congratulations Mitch, enjoy knowing just how much of a difference you made and just how much you mean to the Red And White Family.

[Nich]

It makes me wonder (although not important) if Mitch did his quad a few weeks back when he was a real late withdrawal or was it his anxiety? I can't imagine going through that before each game.

All the best Mitch. Premiership legend and always a decent bloke to chat to at the functions. Can't knock a GF Winner!

[Nico]

Without trying to psychoanalyse Mitch, I suspect that he is both an intelligent and insecure man, who feels the need even at the age of 26 to focus his long term future referrable to a formal education. I also felt that he was anxious about participating in senior AFL.

Good luck Mitch. I hope you succeed in your life's pursuits. You will always be a Premiership player.

I would say he is the opposite to insecure. From his decision he appears as someone who has the courage to move on regardless of the rewards of AFL. He has broken out from who he has been to go onto create a new life for himself.

[jono2707]

I would say he is the opposite to insecure. From his decision he appears as someone who has the courage to move on regardless of the rewards of AFL. He has broken out from who he has been to go onto create a new life for himself.

When I heard the news today I thought of WCE's Tom Swift, who retired at a young age last year so he could go and study medicine. I know, shock horror, some people see a life and a future outside of AFL.... Someone like Mitch probably just doesn't want to continue with the struggle of making the grade, and he most likely already has some pretty strong ideas of where his next career will take him. Good on him.

[CJK]

Will always have a little slice of history to call his own. Can't ask for much more.

Thank you Mitch.

[0918330512]

When I heard the news today I thought of WCE's Tom Swift, who retired at a young age last year so he could go and study medicine.

With all due respect to both you & Mitch, Med is somewhat different to Mitch's chosen post-retirement career. Very limited opportunities to be accepted into the medical course, limited ability to defer it once accrpted, very rigorous time commitment to study it once commenced & potential debilitating injuries sustained playing footy can severely hinder career path opportunities. Also the remuneration after graduating med will be likely more akin to his footballers wage ... but for his working lifetime which will be significantly longer than his playing lifetime. Sure, some people have combined footy & Med ... but sometimes one has to be chosen above the other for a greater chance of success.

Reminds me more of Nathan Ablett. Won a premiership, achieved the ultimate goal (something Skilts would've given his 3 Brownlows for) & perhaps lost the desire to keep going at that level with all the emotional cost (or for Ablett the intrusive scrutiny). & he/they now have other challenges that are higher priorities ... but like so many other retired footballers, really love the game so want to remain involved.

Best of luck Mitch. Who knows ... many players including Ablett) have left the game, only to return ... regardless, you will always be a Blood with a premiership medal ... & there aren't too many who can claim that distinction.

[Alan]

Perhaps, Scotty, we should offer him some sort of honorary membership to RWO? He could be our number one ticket holder and his posts could make for some interesting reading too. We could even run a competition to choose his call sign? How about "Mighty Mitch"?

[Reggi]

Great story. Not a gun, will long be remembered for the 2012 gf. Will have watched him get that ball out to Kieran Jack 50 times

[ernie koala]

Just like how he played on the big occasions...and how he is perceived by footy fans...

He's surprised us all, done it his way.

Seems ,from the outside, like a strong minded pragmatic decision...

His Swans career was brief, sporadic, spectacular ..... and a premiership to boot...Well played Mitch! And best of luck.

[mcs]

Best of luck Mitch. You will never be forgotten for your part in our Premiership in 2012 - and I do hope he tells his grandkids over and over one day about the moment leading up to Jack's goal. Probably the most important moment in his footy career and he did it so well!

[Bloodthirsty]

He came into the team around finals time last year, and was an x-factor that had a lot to do with us winning the Premiership. It is ridiculous that 1/3 of our team can be injured and he still doesn't get a game. There is no way anyone can say that players are treated equally in terms of work/performance - reward. We've carried notable passengers in recent times when they weren't performing. But there was zero-tolerance for Mitch (like Jesse had), even if the ball was being bombed mindlessly to the forward lines for these 'poor' games of his.

I try not to get too caught up in the lives of people I don't know, but I am really saddened that his career has ended, for whatever reason. He's a natural, instinctive forward who worked on his game - and to see him play in recent times, he looked like a man on a mission. I was looking forward to him cementing a spot, but unfortunately not to be.

[CureTheSane]

I wonder if he'd be considered a deserter if he hadn't been a part of a premiership team?

[Dooloo]

Thanks Mitch. You will always be remembered as our Ted Hopkins