Mitchell names the five best he’s played alongside

BROWNLOW Medallist Tom Mitchell has named the top five players he’s played alongside across his 12 years in the AFL system so far.

Mitchell was asked the question on The Unlaced Podcast with Jake Barker-Daish with the midfielder naming five who were the best when he played with them, not across the duration of their entire careers.

The midfielder named two Sydney stars whom he played alongside from 2012 to 2016, one Hawthorn legend and two of his Collingwood premiership teammates in his top five.

Lance Franklin (Sydney)

“Buddy Franklin, obviously,” Mitchell said. “He was at the peak of his powers when I was at the Swans.

“He was kicking goals from everywhere and 80-plus goals a year. He was a freak.”

Josh Kennedy (Sydney)

“Josh Kennedy when I was at the Swans,” Mitchell said.

“He was so good at what he did, he was the guy I looked up to as the player I wanted to be.

“His clearance stuff in particular was so clean. You couldn’t tackle him, he was too big for a mid.

“He was great to play alongside.”

Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)

“I played a handful of games with Cyril,” Mitchell said. “It was 2017, he was a bit injured but he still did things in games.

“There was this one game, we played against West Coast at the MCG, I was front and centre at a contest and he took a hanger… I remember it.

“He took a hanger and he was floating up there for five seconds, I was like, ‘He’s just hovering’.

“I might not have seen him at his absolute best.”

Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

“Nick Daicos,” Mitchell said. “Yep, he is that good.

“How do you get better from how good he already is? He is that good.

“It’s scary, isn’t it?”

Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)

“I might say Jordy,” Mitchell said. “He does things other players can’t, he’s like our Dustin Martin.

“He kicks goals from impossible angles, from distance, in key moments, in big games.

“So probably Jordy [rounds out the top five].”

– SEN