Midfielder Tom Mitchell isn't ready for his AFL journey to end yet and is hopeful a fourth AFL club will choose to sign him ahead of the 2026 season.
The 2018 Brownlow medallist struggled to cement himself in the Magpies engine room in 2025, featuring in just four AFL games after over a year out of the senior side with a foot injury and strong performances from the likes of Ned Long keeping him at state level.
It means the 32-year-old has not had his contract renewed following this season.
Speaking to AFL Media's Josh Gabelich, Mitchell said he came to terms quickly with the Magpies' decision to look elsewhere for their 2026 list build, but believes he still offers plenty to contribute for any AFL club.
"To be honest, [the delisting] wasn't a huge surprise," Mitchell said.
"You can see what outcome is likely to occur, basically, if you're not getting picked to play regular senior footy.
"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.
"Any opportunity [in the AFL] I would be grateful for. I feel like I have learnt what it takes to be a part of a successful team. The three teams I've been at – the Swans, the Hawks and the Pies – have been the three most successful sides over the past two decades in terms of wins.
"I've been in a lot of successful environments, and I think the lessons I've learnt from these clubs is what I can hopefully pass on and help the next club if the opportunity arises."
While no club has reportedly offered Mitchell a deal for next year, Mitchell still has the opportunity to be selected on the open market via the pre-season supplemental selection period.
One club which looms as a potential landing spot for the veteran is West Coast. Mitchell lived in Western Australia for a period of his schooling days and his experience could provide valuable mentorship to a young list looking to take a jump next season, featuring a number of exciting talents, including the 2023 National Draft's highly touted Pick 1, Harley Reid.
"[I love] giving back and passing on the habits I've learned. I took a great deal of enjoyment out of that at Collingwood this year," Mitchell told AFL.com.au.
"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."
While senior opportunities were limited for Mitchell in 2025, he still excelled when provided the keys to Collingwood's midfield, averaging 23.3 disposals, 3.0 clearances and 5.0 score involvements per game in his four appearances this year.
Time will tell if he gets the chance to prove himself again in 2026, but the numbers certainly suggest he's worthy of a spot on a different AFL list.
