SAM Mitchell's new role as a half-back has the capacity to extend the champion midfielder's career, Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis believes.
Mitchell, a four-time club best and fairest winner, has been used as an attacking weapon from defence this season in the absence of Matt Suckling, who is out with a knee injury.
The 30-year-old has been just as prolific as ever, averaging 30.9 disposals per game compared to 27.2 last year, but has won a lot more of his football in space.
He has collected 1.88 uncontested possessions for every contested possession this season, compared to 1.19:1 in 2012, and ranks second at the Hawks for rebound 50s behind Josh Gibson.
The reduced time in congested, high impact situations will have a positive effect, Lewis says.
"I've got no doubt that if you play a crash and bash style of game every week, your body will eventually start to tell you it's had enough," Lewis told AFL.com.au.
"I'm not saying that half-back is not a crash and bash sort of position, but it has definitely freed him up.
"He's recovering a lot better; you don't get those little niggly 'corkies' that sort of hang around.
"I think he's relishing it."
Extremely durable throughout his career, Mitchell has played every game this season and appears on track to once again contend for the Brownlow Medal, an award he is yet to win despite polling a combined 56 votes in the past two counts.
He recently signed a new one-year contract with the Hawks, but said during the summer he hoped to play on for another three seasons.
Lewis praised the former club captain for accepting a new role for the good of the team, after excelling as Hawthorn's No.1 in-and-under midfielder for so long.
"With 'Suckers' (Suckling) being such a creative player by foot, we probably didn't have anyone as creative that wasn't in our best 22 when he went down," Lewis said.
"'Mitch' is one of the best clearance players in the competition, so for him to suck up his ego and to play a position that we need him to play has been a credit to him.
"It's shown how versatile he is."
Mitchell has continued to rotate into the centre square when needed, along with an expanded cast of several others, including Paul Puopolo, Luke Breust and Jarryd Roughead.
The constant stream of different players and types had made Hawthorn harder to handle, Lewis said.
"I think it's a real strength," he said.
"We're not a predictable as we have been in the past."
