Semi-Final Reaction – ClaremontWednesday, September 22, 2021 - 9:33 PM - by Chris Pike

THE run that Claremont veteran Kane Mitchell was having prior to his AFL career at Port Adelaide was almost a dream, but it's seemingly been obstacle after obstacle since, but that has made him more focused than ever on helping the Tigers back to a Grand Final.

Mitchell made his WAFL debut with Claremont back in 2008 and while originally he was given a role as a run-with player, his sheer work ethic saw him turn himself into the hardest running player in the competition and the individual and team accomplishments racked up.

He was a key player in the Claremont team that won three straight minor premierships between 2010-12 on the way to playing in three Grand Finals for two premierships which included him winning the 2012 Sandover Medal, representing WA and winning a fairest and best.

By the end of 2012, he had burst through the door to earn an AFL chance where he went on to spend four years for 35 games with Port Adelaide before then returning to Claremont in 2018 after spending a year away from the game altogether.

It's been quite a rocky road for Mitchell since returning as he chases that third WAFL premiership of his now 146-game career.

Mitchell has continued to play some outstanding football now in four years back with Claremont but along the way he had the captaincy and lost it, and been part of first semi-final, preliminary final and Grand Final heartbreaks the last three years.

Then in 2021 after losing the captaincy, he has had a rollercoaster ride even though from the outside it appears his form has continued to be strong. However, he was sensationally dropped mid-season, was then suspended soon after coming back and has had to fight to secure his spot.

But Mitchell has finished the season in strong form and was then asked to go back to his run-with role in Sunday's first semi-final against West Perth on captain Aaron Black.

FIRST SEMI-FINAL MATCH REPORT

QUALIFYING FINAL REACTION – CLAREMONT

WAFL TEAM OF THE YEAR

FINALS ANALYSIS – CLAREMONT

Eventually Claremont won the game and advanced to this Sunday's preliminary final with South Fremantle and Mitchell did help to quell Black's influence even if he did give away five free-kicks in the opening quarter.

Ultimately it wasn’t the best start but West Perth got better as the game went on and Mitchell was happy to set up yet another battle with the Bulldogs with a Grand Final spot up for grabs.

"We know our game plan and that's how we want to move the ball, but a couple of boys stubbed their toes and the kicks fell a bit short," Mitchell said on SEN. 

"That's probably a bit to do with nerves but West Perth's pressure was really high and they are a class outfit. But we knew that if we stuck at it we should be able to break them down, and we did that and we took our chances as well. 

"That was also hurting us in that first half, we had some gettable goals and just missed left or right, and if you kick a couple of those it changes the feel of the game. The skills were a little bit off early for sure, but maybe mostly because of nerves."

It was quite the dramatic start to Sunday's clash at Revo Fitness Stadium with Black receiving six free-kicks in the opening quarter with five of them paid against Mitchell.

That's something Mitchell has grown accustomed to during his career even if he was once an umpires favourite as a Sandover Medallist.

But in the end he's happy to just do whatever he can to help Claremont win games of football.

"Aaron's a great player and he has been for a long time now, and we knew that was going to be a team role and that I'd have to lead the charge," Mitchell said. 

"He is an absolute superstar of the competition and a really good guy as well so it was unfortunate I had to play that way on him, but it was a team role and I think it went a long way to us winning the game.

"To be honest, I do try and play on the edge a little bit and I've done that my whole career. When it's a final they are always looking to try and settle the game to make sure no one is doing what I was trying to do, but you can't do much about it. 

"They are five free kicks that I can't get back but you do what you have to try and do to win the game and that's about it. Giving away more free kicks than I receive has been a rub that I've had my whole career, but it is what it is and I can't control it.

"I just have to play with aggression but pull it back in a little bit, but as you get older and slower I think that's kind of what happens too."

Now Mitchell and the Tigers are turning their attention to another crack with South Fremantle in this Sunday's preliminary final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Only a point has separated the two teams in their last two match ups including two weeks ago in the qualifying final while it was also a three-point game in the Grand Final last year.

Those are the last three times the teams have played at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and Mitchell is hoping it's time for the luck run Claremont's way this time around.

"I think it's going to be another cracker. We just seem to match up really well and it doesn’t matter who's winning and by how much, it just seems to ebb and flow and come back to being close," Mitchell said.

"I know the Grand Final last year was another absolute classic and NAIDOC Round this year we got in front and then they got in front late. 

"Then two weekends ago it was another one where we probably should have pinched it and it probably shouldn’t have got to that stage. We'll assess how they went on the weekend and hopefully come up with a plan to get the points against them this time."

When Mitchell looks at the bigger picture of what he's been through and the lessons he continues to learn even in this latter stage of his career, he just wants to keep holding his head high and giving his all.

"I've learned a lot about myself and football is a great vehicle to show out your true character. You can kick stones and suck lemons if it doesn’t go your way or you can roll the sleeves up, look inside and figure out what you are really about," Mitchell said.

"Hopefully people can see that I'm trying to put in some hard work and work on myself, and in the end football is football and I just want to be the best version of myself that I can. Hopefully I continue to do that."