BEFORE four-time premiership hero Sam Mitchell hangs up the footy boots, there's time for one more historic achievement.
Mitchell, who announced his end-of-season retirement on Wednesday, needs 14 handballs on Sunday against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium to break Scott West's all-time record of 4093 career handballs.
The feat would add to a glittering set of accolades Mitchell has collected since being named the 2003 Rising Star.
Scroll through the stats record books and Mitchell's name is everywhere.
Sixteen years after the Hawks took him with pick No.36 in the 2001 'superdraft', he stands:
- first overall for clearances
- third for contested possessions
- sixth overall for disposals
- ninth for goal assists
- 10th for inside 50s
The stats honour board goes some way to explaining Mitchell's critical role in Hawthorn's dominant era, and why his trophy cabinet also now includes the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
On the few occasions the opposition managed to shut Mitchell down, they went a long way towards winning the match.
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The stats within the streak
Coincidentally, if Mitchell either equals or breaks the record this weekend, it will be from the same number of games played as West.
West, a champion Bulldog who was unlucky never to win his own Brownlow Medal, played 324 games; his 4093 handballs coming at an average of 12.633 a match.
Mitchell has currently played 323 games, with his 4080 handballs coming at an average of 12.632 a match.
The most handballs Mitchell has recorded in a single match is a staggering 31 (out of 44 disposals), coming against St Kilda in round four last year.
One more Mitchell milestone: The retiring champ can also join an exclusive club on Sunday by notching his 200th career win.
| Handballs | Player | Club(s) | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4093 | Scott West | Western Bulldogs | 324 |
| 4080 | Sam Mitchell | West Coast/Hawthorn | 323 |
| 4008 | Robert Harvey | St Kilda | 383 |
| 3781 | Simon Black | Brisbane Lions | 322 |
| 3737 | Matt Priddis | West Coast | 235 |
Who's next best?
It's no surprise some of the most enduring midfielders around have racked up the most handballs in the competition.
| Handballs | Player | Club(s) | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3737 | Matt Priddis | West Coast | 235 |
| 3656 | Gary Ablett jnr | Gold Coast/Geelong | 301 |
| 3452 | Scott Thompson | Adelaide | 308 |
| 3366 | Matthew Boyd | Western Bulldogs | 291 |
Sam Mitchell is part of a pretty special group with four flags. Picture: AFL Photos
The Chaser: The Burgoyne family legacy
The Burgoyne brothers, Peter and Shaun, are renowned for their silky skills.
Peter played 240 games for Port Adelaide across a 13-year career, retiring in 2009 as a premiership player.
Younger brother Shaun also started his career at the Power, before crossing to Hawthorn at the end of 2009.
With Shaun due to line up against Richmond on Sunday afternoon, the Burgoyne brothers will draw level with Ian and Bruce Nankervis in second position for the most games played by a pair of brothers (578).
Simon and Justin Madden lead the way with 710 games, while Mark and Jarrad McVeigh are the next best of the current group with 526 games (sixth overall).
Text: Sarah Black | Designs: Kahla Emonson | Stats: Cameron Sinclair
Want more?
• The Chase: more mini milestones
• Round 19's Team of the Week: Did we get it right?
• Schick AFL Player Ratings: Who's your club's leader?
