Hugh Mitchell

Hugh Mitchell (born 22 November 1934) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and Dandenong in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) during the 1950s and 1960s. Early career at Essendon Recruited from the local junior team the Moonee Imperials, Mitchell was so impressive with the Essendon thirds (under-19s) in his first season that he was promoted to the firsts; and, apart from times when injured (he was prone to leg injuries), he played as a firsts regular. He played 77 consecutive games for the firsts from 1954 to 1958. He was a fast and clever footballer, a beautiful drop kick and very elusive; he had an astounding ability to anticipate opponents and popped up unexpectedly just where he was needed. In his early career he played on the forward line – he played at full-forward in the side that lost 7.11 (53) to Geelong's 9.7 (61) in the 1955 first semi-final – and, as his career progressed he developed into Essendon's first specialist ruck-rover who, for many years rucked in tandem with Geoff Leek, alternating with Mal Pascoe.