THE Hale School community is celebrating after former student Tom Mitchell was crowned this year’s AFL Brownlow medallist.
Hawthorn’s Mitchell graduated from the Wembley Downs school in 2011 and the following year joined the Sydney Swans under the father-son rule.
His father Barry Mitchell played 170 games for Sydney, before joining Collingwood then Carlton.
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READ NOWThe younger Mitchell was coached by former West Coast Eagles player Paul Peos at Hale and played for Claremont’s colts side in the WAFL.
The school congratulated him on the achievement and becoming “Hale’s first ever Brownlow medallist”.
“We have all followed his career closely since he graduated from Hale in 2011 but rarely have we been prouder,” the school wrote on social media.
Principal Dean Dell’Oro said they were proud of all past students’ achievements.
“We are naturally thrilled for Tom knowing that he is not only an outstanding footballer but also a fine young man,” he said.
All eyes will be on another former Hale student this weekend, with 2012 graduate Tom Barrass set to line up for the Eagles in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
The talented defender and Scarborough Junior Football Club product is expected to have the difficult task of nullifying Collingwood’s Mason Cox.