Mitchell is 2016 Club Legend

Brilliant rover Michael Mitchell, winner of the Sandover Medal in 1984 and runner-up the following year, is Claremont’s 2016 match-day legend.

Mitchell, recruited from Carnarvon, was a lightly-framed speedster with dazzling skills. Not only did he delight the fans with his sizzling pace and the ability to break away from the packs to kick goals, he was renowned for his prodigious leap which enabled him to soar to great heights to pull down many spectacular marks.

Even though he appeared in only 13 league matches in 1982 he was voted the winner of the WAFL Players’ Association’s best first-year player.

In 1984 he won the Sandover Medal in a three-way tie with teammate Steve Malaxos and East Perth’s Peter Spencer. He finished second in the prestigious award in 1985 to East Fremantle’s Murray Wrensted.

Mitchell was rewarded for his superb form with selection in the all-Australian team in 1985 and 1986. It was at Subiaco Oval in 1986 that Mitchell was awarded the Mark of the Year for his magnificent leap over Subiaco full-back Greg Wilkinson.

After playing in 88 league matches for Claremont (scoring 135 goals) he was recruited by Richmond where he continued to hit the headlines with his freakish skills. In 1990 he became only the second player in VFL-AFL history to achieve the dual honour of taking the Mark of the Year and kicking the Goal of the Year in the same season.He flew in from the side to pull down a spectacular one-handed juggled mark over Fitzroy’s Brett Stevens and in the final round of qualifying matches he booted one of the game’s most remarkable goals against the Sydney Swans at the SCG when he grabbed the ball off the pack at centre-half-back and sped downfield, taking seven bounces and eluding and outpacing a series of opponents before kicking a wonderful goal.

At Richmond’s centenary dinner in 2008 Mitchell was named as one of ten Tigers treasures of the century and the winner of the club’s Goal of the Century. He was one of ten nominees for the Mark of the Century, which was won by Michael Roach.

He received a serious head injury in a practice match against North Melbourne, which effectively ended his career. He suffered many concussions and retired in 1991 after playing 81 matches and scoring 103 goals for Richmond.

Mitchell also shone in eight interstate matches for WA and he represented Australia in six international matches against Ireland.

Mitchell's Mark of the Year for Claremont FC in 1984.

Mitchell's Mark of the Year for Richmond FC in 1990.

Mitchell's Goal of the Year for Richmond FC in 1990.