Sore Mitchell to help coach
WEST Coast midfielder Sam Mitchell will get a taste of his coaching future this weekend after being rested for the AFL clash with Collingwood at Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson threw up a selection surprise yesterday when he revealed Mitchell wouldn’t play against the Mapgies because of soreness.
Instead, the Brownlow medallist will sit up in the coaches’ box, where he’ll have input into the team’s stoppage and centre-bounce tactics.
However, as the travelling emergency, Mitchell will play if one of his teammates gets struck down by injury or illness before the match.
Mitchell arrived at West Coast from Hawthorn late last year with a two-pronged mission – to add one or two more chapters to his glittering playing career, before joining the club’s coaching ranks.
It appears increasingly likely the former Hawks skipper will hang up his boots at the end of the season.
West Coast (9-7) need to beat Collingwood if they are to keep their top-four hopes alive.
A loss could make it tough for the eighth-placed Eagles to even make the finals.
But despite the high-stakes nature of the match, Simpson said it was the right decision to rest Mitchell.
“He’s very important for us but we also think it’s time for a rest,” Simpson said.
“He’s 35 in a month or two and he’s just showing a couple of signs of soreness.
“We’ll manage him in the right way and give opportunity to others.
“I don’t think (the travel) has been an issue. I think it’s just the wear and tear of his age bracket probably grabs him every now and then.”
Simpson confirmed 20year-old defender Tom Cole would play, while Elliot Yeo (knee) would also return if he pulled up well today.
The Magpies will be without skipper Scott Pendlebury who has had surgery on a broken finger.