In light of Tom Mitchell setting a new club record for most disposals in a game with his 50-touch performance against Collingwood on Saturday, we thought we’d look back at those that have reached similar heights before him.
Before ‘Ball Magnet’ Mitchell (as he is quickly becoming known) swapped the red and white for the brown and gold stripes and began his devoted quest for leather poisoning, six men jointly held the Hawthorn record for most disposals in a match.
In Round 21, 1983, a 25-year-old Terry Wallace ran rampant at Waverley Park, collecting 44 disposals and booting four goals to help his side to a 115-point capitulation against a demoralised Demons outfit.
Wallace’s disposal tally remained unbeaten for the best part of 34 years. Anthony Condon, Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge, Josh Gibson and Sam Mitchell matched Wallace’s efforts in 1991, ’14, ’15, ’16 and ’16 respectively, though no Hawk was able to reach that elusive 45 (let alone 50) until T. Mitchell came along.
Watch: Mitchell's 50 touches in 50 seconds
Other notables to have found plenty of the Sherrin include Brownlow medallist John Platten (43), favourite son Shane Crawford (41) and ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews (41).
Mitchell's Round 9 effort is all the more impressive as it does not appear to be a "flash in the pan" performance. Since arriving at Waverley, Mitchell has posted just one stat sheet with less than 30 touches (27). He currently leads the AFL in total disposals with 323 - 23 more than the next best (Adelaide's Rory Laird), and has set the new AFL record for most disposals before Round 10.
If this trend continues, Mitchell will become just the forth Hawk in history to lead the league in season disposals. And the way things are going, it doesn't look like Mitchell has any plans of slowing down.
Read: Mitchell not fussed about numbers
All Hawthorn players to have accumulated 40+ touches in a single AFL/VFL game:
(since the recording of statistics)
50 – Tom Mitchell, Round 9, 2017 v Collingwood, MCG
44 – Anthony Condon, Round 23, 1991 v Carlton, Princes Park
44 – Josh Gibson, Round 2, 2016 v West Coast, MCG
44 – Jordan Lewis, Round 21, 2014, v Fremantle, Subiaco Oval
44 – Terry Wallace, Round 21, 1983 v Melbourne, Waverley Park
44 – Sam Mitchell, Round 4, 2016 v St Kilda, York Park
44 – Luke Hodge, Round 3, 2015 v Western Bulldogs, York Park
43 – John Platten, Round 21, 1988 v St Kilda, Waverley Park
42 – Jordan Lewis, Round 10, 2016, v Brisbane, Gabba
42 – Terry Wallace, Round 9, 1983 v Carlton, Princes Park
41 – John Platten, Round 22, 1989 v St Kilda, Waverley Park
41 – Shane Crawford, Round 18, 1999 v Fremantle, Waverley Park
41 – Shane Crawford, Round 17, 1999 v Adelaide, Football Park
41 – Jordan Lewis, Round 3, 2015 v Western Bulldogs, York Park
41 – Leigh Matthews, Round 3, 1973 v Essendon, Waverley Park
41 – Leigh Matthews, Round 10, 1977 v Melbourne, MCG
41 – Terry Wallace, Round 6, 1983 v Richmond, Waverley Park
41 – Robert DiPierdomenico, Round 11, 1986 v Melbourne, Princes Park
40 – Darrin Pritchard, Round 16, 1992 v Geelong, Kardinia Park
40 – Richard Loveridge, Round 16, 1987 v Collingwood, Victoria Park
