MITCHELL, Hugh

Hughie Mitchell was a superb forward and later ruck-rover who came to Essendon from the Moonee Imperials. He started with the Third 18 in 1953 but played so well that he was promoted to the Reserves after only five games, then to the senior team just eleven games later. It was a meteoric rise and foreshadowed a magnificent career.

He made his debut in Round 16, 1953, in a win over Melbourne. He only played one more game that year but played every match the following season.

He was a clever position player, able to slip his opponents and create opportunities. He was supremely fit, able to run all day and was so elusive that the press dubbed him the Scarlet Pimpernel. He was the first great Essendon ruck-rover of the modern era.

Mitchell won the Best and Fairest award in 1959 and the W. R. Crichton Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Services in 1961. He was also Essendon vice-captain in 1963.

He later made a successful move to full-forward and headed Essendon's goalkickers in 1955 with 51 goals, in 1961 with 33 goals and in 1964 with 32 goals. He was second in 1959 and third in 1958 and 1962. His best haul was nine goals against South Melbourne in 1955. Inexplicably, his opponent, Fred Goldsmith was awarded the three Brownlow Medal votes as best-on-ground. Many believe that decision cost Bill Hutchison his third Brownlow Medal as he lost the count by a single vote that year.

Between 1954 and 1958, Mitchell played in 77 consecutive games but he later succumbed to serious leg injuries that led to him missing games in 1960 and 1963.

He was a star as ruck-rover in both the 1962 and 1965 premiership victories.

Mitchell finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal in 1959 with 14 votes. He was also selected in the State side in every year between 1959 and 1962 and booted 13 interstate goals.

He was a regular trophy winner across his career, reflecting his consistent good form and value to the team. He won the Most Unselfish Player award in 1954 and 1956, the Best Utility Player award in 1957 and 1964, the Best Clubman award in 1960 and 1963, and the Most Consistent Player award in 1965.

His career at Essendon ended after he was sensationally dropped in early 1967.

He then played with Dandenong in 1967 and 1968 and was a member of their premiership team in 1967. It was a return to his roots, as he had grown up in Dandenong and played under-18s there before his family moved to Moonee Ponds.

He also represented the VFA in 1968. He then coached Eltham to the premiership in 1969 before returning to Dandenong as coach between 1970 and 1972 winning the premiership in 1971.

After this, he returned to Essendon to work with coach in promotional duties and assist with coaching promising young EDFL players in 1974 and 1975. In 1976 and 1977 he coached Carlton Reserves.

He later became well known as a football commentator on 3KZ and then a television commentator on the ABC.

Hugh Mitchell was named at number 47 in the Champions of Essendon (2002).