Hugh Mitchell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Hugh Mitchell is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who played for Essendon in the VFL
and Dandenong Football Club
during the 1950s and 60s.
He was a fast and very clever footballer, a beautiful drop kick and very elusive; he had an astounding ability to anticipate opponents and often popped up unexpectedly just where he was needed.
In his early career he played on the forward line – he played at full-forward in the side that lost 7.11 (53) to Geelong's
9.7 (61) in the 1955 First Semi-Final – and, as his career progressed he developed into Essendon's first genuine specialist ruck-rover who, for many years rucked in tandem with Geoff Leek
, alternating with Mal Pascoe
.
He played his first senior match for Essendon on Saturday 15 August 1953, in round 16 of the 1953 home-and-away season, when Essendon beat Melbourne
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
to 12.10 (82) to 8.9 (57), with Mitchell scoring the first of his 301 career goals for Essendon.
He kicked five goals in a match on four occasions, six goals in a match on two occasions, and nine goals, in an Essendon team score of 13.14 (92) against South Melbourne
7.12 (54), at Windy Hill
on Saturday 4 June 1955.
season, when both he and Jack Clarke
retired following their protests at their unceremonious relegation to the Seconds, following the First teams embarrassing losses to Richmond
and St KIlda respectively in the first two rounds.
A disappointed Mitchell crossed to VFA team Dandenong
as, as ruck-rover, played in Dandenong's highly controversial 1967 (televised) Grand Final victory over Port Melbourne
at the Punt Road Oval
.http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1976_vfa_grand_final.htm He played another season for Dandenong in 1968.
He coached Eltham Football Club
to a premiership in 1969. Then he returned to Dandenong as non-playing coach, coaching them to another premiership in 1971. He left Dandenong at the end of 1973, and was appointed a special promotional officer at the Essendon Football Club; his special duties included assisting in the coaching of promising young players in the Essendon District Football League in 1974 and 1975. He coached the Carlton
Reserves from 1976 to 1977.
Later, he went on to become a television and radio commentator.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and Dandenong Football Club
Dandenong Football Club
Dandenong Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association . Based in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, the Redlegs wore navy blue and red as their club colours.-History:...
during the 1950s and 60s.
Early career at Essendon
Recruited from the local junior team the Moonee Imperials, Mitchell was so impressive with the Essendon Thirds (under-19s) in his first season that he was promoted to the Firsts; and, apart from times when injured (he was prone to leg injuries), he played as a Firsts regular. He played 77 consecutive games for the Firsts from 1954 to 1958.He was a fast and very clever footballer, a beautiful drop kick and very elusive; he had an astounding ability to anticipate opponents and often popped up unexpectedly just where he was needed.
In his early career he played on the forward line – he played at full-forward in the side that lost 7.11 (53) to Geelong's
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
9.7 (61) in the 1955 First Semi-Final – and, as his career progressed he developed into Essendon's first genuine specialist ruck-rover who, for many years rucked in tandem with Geoff Leek
Geoff Leek
Geoff Leek was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL from 1951 to 1962.- First senior match :...
, alternating with Mal Pascoe
Mal Pascoe
Malcolm L. "Mal" Pascoe is a former Australian rules footballer and coach.He played 94 senior VFL games for the Essendon Football Club from 1953 to 1958, and played 177 senior TANFL games for the Hobart Football Club from 1959 to 1966....
.
He played his first senior match for Essendon on Saturday 15 August 1953, in round 16 of the 1953 home-and-away season, when Essendon beat Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
to 12.10 (82) to 8.9 (57), with Mitchell scoring the first of his 301 career goals for Essendon.
He kicked five goals in a match on four occasions, six goals in a match on two occasions, and nine goals, in an Essendon team score of 13.14 (92) against South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
7.12 (54), at Windy Hill
Windy Hill, Essendon
Windy Hill is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern suburb of the Melbourne metropolitan area....
on Saturday 4 June 1955.
Senior career at Essendon
His senior record with Essendon is impressive:- 19531953 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1953.-Premiership season:In 1953, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 2 games, 1 goal - 19541954 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1954.-Premiership season:In 1954, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 18 games, 19 goals- 19541954 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1954.-Premiership season:In 1954, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Most Unselfish Player
- 1954
- 19551955 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1955.-Premiership season:In 1955, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 19 games, 51 goals, with 9 goals in one game- 19551955 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1955.-Premiership season:In 1955, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: full-forward in losing First Semi-Final team). - 19551955 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1955.-Premiership season:In 1955, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Leading goal-kicker Essendon Football Club (51 goals)
- 1955
- 19561956 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1956.-1956 Summer Olympics:From 22 November to 8 December, the 1956 Summer Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, with a re-configured Melbourne Cricket Ground as its Main Stadium....
: 18 games, 16 goals- 19561956 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1956.-1956 Summer Olympics:From 22 November to 8 December, the 1956 Summer Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, with a re-configured Melbourne Cricket Ground as its Main Stadium....
: Essendon Football Club's Most Unselfish Player Award
- 1956
- 19571957 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1957.-Premiership season:In 1957, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 20 games, 15 goals (plus 1 night game, 3 goals)- 19571957 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1957.-Premiership season:In 1957, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: ruck-rover in losing Grand-Final team) (plus 1 night game, 3 goals) - 19571957 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1957.-Premiership season:In 1957, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Best Utility Player Award
- 1957
- 19581958 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1958.-Premiership season:In 1958, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 13 games, 23 goals (plus 2 night games, 2 goals). - 19591959 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1959.-Premiership season:In 1959, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 21 games, 38 goals- 19591959 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1959.-Premiership season:In 1959, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: ruck-rover in losing Grand-Final team) - 19591959 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1959.-Premiership season:In 1959, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Victorian State Team - 19591959 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1959.-Premiership season:In 1959, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Equal Third in Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/brownlow/brownlow1959.html - 19591959 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1959.-Premiership season:In 1959, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon F.C. Best and FairestW. S. Crichton MedalThe W.S. Crichton Medal is the name given to Best and Fairest award for Australian rules football team the Essendon Football Club. The naming of the award is to honour Walter S...
- 1959
- 19601960 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1960.-Premiership season:In 1960, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 8 games, 11 goals- 19601960 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1960.-Premiership season:In 1960, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Victorian State Team - 19601960 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1960.-Premiership season:In 1960, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Best Clubman Award
- 1960
- 19611961 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1961.-Premiership season:In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 17 games, 33 goals (plus 1 night game, 1 goals)- 19611961 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1961.-Premiership season:In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Acting Captain (12 August 1961) - 19611961 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1961.-Premiership season:In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Victorian State Team - 19611961 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1961.-Premiership season:In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Leading goal-kicker Essendon Football Club (33 goals) - 19611961 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1961.-Premiership season:In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Outstanding Services Award
- 1961
- 19621962 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1962.-Premiership season:In 1962, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 20 games, 29 goals- 19621962 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1962.-Premiership season:In 1962, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Victorian State Team - 19621962 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1962.-Premiership season:In 1962, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: ruck-rover in Premiership team) - 19621962 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1962.-Premiership season:In 1962, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club Life Member
- 1962
- 19631963 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1963.-Premiership season:In 1963, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 9 games, 7 goals (plus 1 night game)- 19631963 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1963.-Premiership season:In 1963, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Vice-Captain - 19631963 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1963.-Premiership season:In 1963, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Best Clubman Award
- 1963
- 19641964 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1964.-Premiership season:In 1964, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 19 games, 32 goals- 19641964 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1964.-Premiership season:In 1964, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: ruck-rover in losing First Semi-Final team) - 19641964 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1964.-Premiership season:In 1964, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Leading goal-kicker Essendon Football Club (32 goals) - 19641964 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1964.-Premiership season:In 1964, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Best Utility Player Award
- 1964
- 19651965 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1965.-Premiership season:In 1965, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 21 games, 20 goals- 19651965 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1965.-Premiership season:In 1965, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Acting Captain (5 June 1965) - 19651965 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1965.-Premiership season:In 1965, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: Essendon Football Club's Most Consistent Player Award - 19651965 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1965.-Premiership season:In 1965, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: ruck-rover in Premiership team)
- 1965
- 19661966 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1966.-Premiership season:In 1966, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 17 games, 11 goals (including reserve in winning First Semi-Final team and reserve in the losing Preliminary Final team)- 19661966 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1966.-Premiership season:In 1966, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: reserve in winning First Semi-Final team - 19661966 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1966.-Premiership season:In 1966, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: reserve in losing Preliminary Final team)
- 1966
- 19671967 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1967.-Premiership season:In 1967, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
: 2 games
After Essendon
Mitchell left Essendon after the second round of the 19671967 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1967.-Premiership season:In 1967, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
season, when both he and Jack Clarke
Jack E. Clarke
Jack E. Clarke was an Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL. An Essendon and Victorian champion, Clarke was one of the premier midfielders of the VFL for well over a decade, leading the mighty Dons to the flag in 1962 when captain and also playing in the victorious 1965 side...
retired following their protests at their unceremonious relegation to the Seconds, following the First teams embarrassing losses to Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
and St KIlda respectively in the first two rounds.
A disappointed Mitchell crossed to VFA team Dandenong
Dandenong Football Club
Dandenong Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association . Based in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, the Redlegs wore navy blue and red as their club colours.-History:...
as, as ruck-rover, played in Dandenong's highly controversial 1967 (televised) Grand Final victory over Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
at the Punt Road Oval
Punt Road Oval
Punt Road Oval is a sporting ground located in Yarra Park, East Melbourne, Victoria situated only a few hundred metres to the east of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground....
.http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1976_vfa_grand_final.htm He played another season for Dandenong in 1968.
He coached Eltham Football Club
Eltham Football Club
Eltham Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Eltham, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.-History:A football team from Eltham began playing social matches at nearby Kangaroo Ground from 1900....
to a premiership in 1969. Then he returned to Dandenong as non-playing coach, coaching them to another premiership in 1971. He left Dandenong at the end of 1973, and was appointed a special promotional officer at the Essendon Football Club; his special duties included assisting in the coaching of promising young players in the Essendon District Football League in 1974 and 1975. He coached the Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
Reserves from 1976 to 1977.
Later, he went on to become a television and radio commentator.