Footy Fans Are Losing It Over Sam Mitchell’s Potential Trade To West Coast

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October 12, 2016

Got AFL fans in your office? You almost definitely heard them all howl out loud earlier this morning when they got to work and checked the trade tracker.

This year’s AFL Trade Period is already utterly bonkers (Brett Deledio and Bryce Gibbs both suddenly on the table fer pete’s sake) but this morning it went from crazy to FUCKING BANANAS.

After winning Hawthorn‘s best and fairest award a mere matter of days ago, it now seems like club champion and four-time premiership player Sam Mitchell is on his way out of the club, set to be traded to the West Coast Eagles in an absolute bombshell of a revelation.

Mitchell, who turns 34 literally today, has apparently been in talks with the Eagles for a few weeks, and (should the trade be completed) would join the club on a one-year playing contract, before transitioning into a coaching role from 2018.

Even rarer, Mitchell was extremely open in talking to media about discussions he’s had with both the Eagles and Hawks’ coach Alasdair Clarkson.

“About 12 months ago West Coast came to me with the idea of coaching when I was finished. I spoke to Hawthorn about that and they know I have done a lot of coaching preparation.”

“I’m in a bit of a funny spot, because if I stay at Hawthorn that’s great and I’ve had a great career there and will continue to do so. If the move is to West Coast, I’d be excited by the prospect, and I feel like I’ve done the right thing by Hawthorn if that’s what eventuates.”

“It’s the first time, in my 15-year career, that I’ve ever been a chance to be involved in a trade so it’s a bit of an awkward situation at the moment and I can’t jump into either camp.”

Any potential trade is, for the moment, still a fair way off. But the news sent footy social media into near-meltdown, with lots of caps-lock reaction from fans, as well as the obligatory tsunami of jokes which is, let’s be real, what you’re here for.

Sam Mitchell’s watch at @HawthornFC appears to have ended… pic.twitter.com/ZtqsXX8hiN

— Draftstars (@DraftstarsAU) October 12, 2016

West Coast hoping to sign Sam Mitchell. Makes sense to go after a player who knows what it’s like to win in Victoria… #AFLTrades

— TAB (@tabcomau) October 11, 2016

Sam Mitchell to West Coast
* checks for draftees with same name
* checks if date is April 1
* checks if I’m drunk
* recheck all above

Okay.

— Robert Griffin (@RLGriffinGWS) October 11, 2016

Sam Mitchell’s 34th birthday.
Holiday with the family in NZ. Won a Brownlow. Flagged a WA seachange. Sent the footy world bonkers. Tick.

— Tim Hodges (@timmyhodges) October 11, 2016

Hawthorn set to join the rest of the AFL in not tagging Sam Mitchell.

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) October 11, 2016

It’s going to be hard for Hawthorn players to dislike Sam Mitche- oh, it’s done already. #TradeSENtral #AFLTrades @JunktimeAFLPod #AFL

— adam rozenbachs (@arozenbachs) October 11, 2016

Hang on, Mitchell to West Coast? But Wayne Carey said he wouldn’t get a game anywhere but Hawthorn.

— Titus O’Reily (@TitusOReily) October 11, 2016

Sam Mitchell looks alright in @WestCoastEagles colours #AFLTrades pic.twitter.com/PkUJLP8MJA

— Dylan Briotti (@dylbob04) October 12, 2016

But the MVP? This deft little bit of Simpsons Shitposting referencing the fact that the Hawks are also circling wantaway Sydney mid Tom Mitchell.

Simply the best thing to happen this #AFLTrades period! #Simpsons #SimpsonsQuotes #SamMitchell #Mitchell #Hawthorn #WestCoast #NABTradeRadio

A photo posted by Coaches Panel (@coachespanel) on Oct 11, 2016 at 5:40pm PDT

Now that’s a spicy meat-a-ball.

Source: Twitter.

Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty.