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Swans sign up American

  • Saturday, August 03 2013 @ 07:08 pm ACST
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Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph has reported that the Sydney Swans have signed Patrick Mitchell, one of the three athletes to come out of the AFL's US combine earlier this year.

The three athletes trialled at the Swans and in front of other AFL clubs in June. Swans' head of recruiting told the Telegraph "The other two were impressive as well, but we felt the thing with Patrick was he was going to give it absolutely 100 per cent."

Beatson's opinion on whether he would make an AFL footballer "Is there a guarantee Patrick is going to make it? No, there's not. But we're going to give him a go and provide him with the resources to give him a realistic chance of making it."

The other two athletes (Mark Cisco and Jason Holmes) may get another chance to impress clubs at this year's Draft camp in October, invitations will be announced in September.

Previously the Swans have passed on taking Shae McNamara and signed Alex Starling from the US to an international scholarship, but Starling never appeared to have made it to the point where he was seriously considered to be added to the Swan's list. 

The Swans released the following statement this afternoon;

THE Sydney Swans are pleased to announce the signing of 24 year old American Patrick Mitchell as an International Rookie. 

Mitchell, from Des Moine, Iowa, stands at 201cm and has a background in basketball, most recently playing with the University of North Dakota. 

Swans coach John Longmire said the club was impressed with Mitchell’s athletic capabilities as well as his determination to learn the game.

“Obviously what we’ve seen with Mike Pyke coming to our footy club is that there is potential for players who haven’t got a background in AFL football to develop and have an opportunity to play league football if they have the right mindset, are prepared to work, and have some athletic talent,” Longmire said.

“We think that’s what Patrick has got – a combination of all of those attributes," he said. 

Mitchell is expected to arrive in Sydney in October. His recruitment is part of the Basil Sellers International Program.
 
More more information on Patrick Mitchell, including video footage, please click here.