Tom Mitchell trade 'cost Swans the premiership'
A former AFL coach says Sydney threw away the 2017 flag by sending Tom Mitchell to Hawthorn.
With fellow star midfielders Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery on the books, as well as the likes of Isaac Heeney coming through, the Swans decided to ship Mitchell to the Hawks at the end of 2016 for what became No.11 draft pick Oliver Florent.
Salary cap pressures also factored into the decision, with limited room to move due to Lance Franklin's monster contract.
The Swans stormed into the finals on the back of an incredible return to form, but their 0-6 start ultimately cost them a double chance in the finals.
Their only loss in two months came in the semi-final against Geelong, and their sixth-place finish meant they were playing elimination footy.
And former Fremantle coach Chris Connolly reckons it would have been a very different story if the Swans still had Mitchell.
“This is a club that pinches all of the best players from clubs around the country and has done it quite successfully over a long period of time," Connolly told SEN Radio.
"How on earth did they let this homegrown son of a champion walk out of the club?
“It has cost them a premiership this season.
“Tom Mitchell (was) the second best player in the (2016) Grand Final and nearly won it for them.
"He’s 24 years of age and you don’t play your best footy until you're 25.
“This guy has the credibility to become a champion of our game and 12 months later we see that at the Hawthorn footy club — he’ll probably come top three in the Brownlow Medal.”
Mitchell averaged a league-best 35.8 disposals and 6.5 tackles this season and starred in two Hawthorn victories over his former club.
