Delisted Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell believes he has plenty to offer a new AFL club after his delisting from Collingwood.
The 32-year-old was axed by the Magpies last week after only playing 10 AFL games in the past two seasons.
Mitchell played all 26 games in Collingwood's 2023 premiership year - finishing fourth in the club's best and fairest.
But has increasingly become a peripheral figure in recent seasons ahead of his delisting - despite playing four games of solid senior football to finish 2025.
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However, Mitchell feels like he is still able to perform at the top level and his body is in excellent shape to continue his AFL career.
"To be honest, it [the delisting] wasn't a huge surprise. You can see what outcome is likely to occur, basically, if you're not getting picked to play regular senior footy," Mitchell told AFL.com.au.
"The feedback I got was I was still playing really good footy, but it came down to the balance of the midfield having too many inside mids in the team. Unfortunately I couldn't stay in the team,"
"But from a health point of view, coming from a year out, I didn't miss a game from round seven onwards. I'm feeling great, feeling fit, I would have played 15 in a row, didn't miss a game or a training session, so my body is feeling good."
Mitchell cited the performances of other AFL elder statemen's Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom as another reason to why he still can play at the top level.
"There are a few reasons (I want to continue). One would be pride. I think I've worked my arse off for the best part of 14 years in the AFL and I feel like from a personal preparation point of view I've got good footy left in me," Mitchell said.
"I'm 32, but there are guys like Pendles and Steele who are playing great footy over the age of 35 and other guys around the league, too. It is achievable. I love playing, love preparing, I'm a competitor and still think I've got some great footy left in me.
"The other side of it is giving back and passing on the habits I've learned. I took a great deal of enjoyment out of that at Collingwood this year.
"It was rewarding to receive a message from pretty much every young player on the list since it was announced that I'm finished at Collingwood. That feels rewarding at the back end of your career to know you can have a positive impact and help the next wave of guys coming through."