It’s easy to forget about players in the AFL.
For many, it can be a case of out of sight, out of mind. This is particularly the case when it comes to a high-performing team like Collingwood, who seem to be able to swap players in and out of the team without ever really suffering too much of a downgrade.
Over the past couple of months, we have seen the Magpies roll out Roan Steele (great name for a spy, by the way), Charlie West, and Will Parker into their senior side to fill gaps, gain experience, and rest older players. This, in addition to the continued inclusion of players like Ed Allen, Lachie Sullivan, and Charlie Dean, who continue to grow under the tutelage of Craig McRae, as well as senior teammates.
It has been a fantastic lesson in how to maintain team structures and styles, whilst blooding young players and utilising the depth of the list.
But then there are additions that seem to come out of the blue.
I reckon a fair portion of the AFL fandom had moved on from Tom Mitchell. At 32 years of age, and with just six games since he became part of the Pies’ 2023 premiership glory, many had put a line through Mitchell and what he could offer Collingwood.
And then, in front of 75,000 people at the MCG, Mitchell returned to the team and gave both Carlton, and the AFL world a reminder of who he is.
And what he can do.
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