Tom Mitchell of the Hawthorn Hawks is making his case for inclusion in the race for the Brownlow Medal for the 2017 season of the AFL Premiership competition.
He established a new high-water mark when the Hawks went up against the Greater Western Sydney Giants Saturday past, a game that ended in a draw, which must have felt almost like winning Grand Final for the Hawks, coming as it did against one of the top two sides in the league.
Mitchell’s accomplishment was to record more than 30 disposals in the game, remarkable enough on its own merits, more so that it marked the 12th straight game in which he has tallied 30 or more disposals.
It was the 14th game of 15 played so far where Mitchell has had at least 30 touches, with the one exception being the 27 he recorded against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 3.
Against the Giants, Mitchell tallied 39 disposals, along with 10 clearances, nine tackles and one goal.
He still has quite a bit of ground to make up on Brownlow favourite Patrick Dangerfield, who looks like a runaway, despite playing on a successful Geelong Cats side.
Mitchell’s odds have firmed to $17 according to Crown Bet, but Dangerfield’s firmed again as well, now at $1.90.
Next comes Dustin Martin at $3 and Josh Kelly at $15.
Dangerfield is not standing pat, by any means. He continues to put space between himself and Martin, following a game against the inept Brisbane Lions when he seemingly could have won single-handed. He kicked three goals, had three clearances and 38 disposals.
We could find no instances of a player winning the Brownlow and a premiership in the same season and Tony Lockett is the only footballer to win the Charlie and the Coleman Medal in the same year, playing for the St Kilda Saints in 1987.
