Arguably one of the top delisted free agents on the market right now is 2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell.
The 32-year-old 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.
However, 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.
So, which teams should be willing to take on the veteran talent?
We look at four potential landing spots for Tom Mitchell.
1West Coast
The club which looms as the favourite landing spot for Tom Mitchell is West Coast.
The obvious lure for Mitchell is a return to Western Australia, hvaing lived in the state for a period of his schooling days, playing for Claremont in the WAFL as a teenager.
However, what could excite both parties is the opportunity for Mitchell to 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'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," Mitchell told AFL Media's Josh Gabelich earlier this week.
While speaking on SEN on Friday, Mitchell said he would be keen on a potential leadership role at the Eagles next year.
"West Coast would be amazing. They're a proud big club and I have family and friends there," he said.
Mitchell's tenacity at the contest will also be a boost for the Eagles midfield, who struggled to win contested possessions mightily in their historically poor 2025 campaign. His 8.8 contested possessions per game would have ranked second on the Eagles this year, illustrating this notion.
Despite being slower in his twilight years, being surrounded by a crop of explosive young talent in the middle should be able to mask this weakness and ensure Mitchell can offer consistent footy in 2026.
