AFL Brownlow Medalist Tom Mitchell will bring his elite skills to the Rutherglen Cats in their match against Beechworth on May 23. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
Rutherglen Football Club has secured the services of Brownlow Medalist and premiership player Tom Mitchell for their May 23 match against Beechworth at Barkly Park.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Mitchell, fully fit and recently retired, will make a once-off appearance in the home game in what is a huge coup for the club.
Reed Bonat, co-coach of the Rutherglen Cats said it was a significant boost for the football club and the community as a whole.
“To have a player of Tom’s caliber at the footy club is a super result,” Reed said.
“It gives our Saturday afternoon players a chance to play with and learn from someone of AFL quality.
“Not only that, it also exposes our juniors and Auskickers to one of the best to play the game.”
Rutherglen Cats co-coach Reed Bonat said former AFL player Tom Mitchell’s upcoming appearance with the team in May will be a huge boost for the community. (Photo Contributed)
Reed has been coaching at the Cats since 2024; first as assistant coach and then as co-coach with Dylan Van Berlo from the 2025 season.
He made contact to bring Mitchell to Rutherglen after having previously met through Melbourne-based movement and rehabilitation specialist Mark McGrath.
Reed said having Tom Mitchell playing at Barkly Park in Rutherglen is a huge drawcard and hopes it will bring extra people to the town to watch him play.
A ball magnet throughout his AFL playing career with Sydney, Hawthorn and Collingwood football clubs, Mitchell’s last two years at the elite level were hampered by injury.
Now back in top condition following a plantar fasciitis issue through 2024 and 2025, Mitchell’s skills will be on display in a match that is timed nicely with the Ovens and Murray interleague bye.
24°C