Sydney coach John Longmire with their father-son draft pick Tom Mitchell. Source: News Limited
BALL magnet and father-son recruit Tom Mitchell will make his long-awaited AFL debut for Sydney on Saturday.
Mitchell, the son of Swans great Barry Mitchell, will play his first senior match against Essendon at the SCG.
The star junior midfielder - who has collected an incredible 106 disposals in the past two weeks in the NEAFL, was picked by the Swans at selection 21 in the 2011 national draft.
He has since been plagued by knee tendonitis and a foot stress fracture, but has forced coach John Longmire's hand with his outstanding form in the past month.
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Mitchell, who celebrates his 20th birthday tomorrow, said he arrived at training today and was told to wait in Longmire's office.
"A few minutes later him and Kieren Jack walked in the door and just said 'Congratulations, you've got your first game'.
"I was over the moon to hear that and that's how it happened," Mitchell told the Swans website.
"I called mum and dad as soon as I heard the news and they were really happy for me and they've been part of my footy journey my whole life so they were just as happy as I was to hear the news."
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