BRAD Sewell’s pursuit of a third AFL premiership remains alive with former Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell declaring the 30-year-old a chance to return to the team for Saturday’s grand final against Sydney.
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Mitchell said Sewell, who was dropped from the side for the weekend’s preliminary final win against Port Adelaide, was among a number of players still in the hunt for selection for the biggest game of the year.
“He’s in the mix as well because there could be changes. They are probably a little bit thicker-bodied side, the Swans,” Mitchell said at Tuesday’s press conference.
“We don’t have exactly the same 22 running out, definitely. There’s going to be the chance for change over the course of the week.
“We have still got about 30 guys training with us and any one of those guys could potentially play.”
Mitchell said Sewell had shown great character since learning of his omission from the side last week.
“I rang him on Friday and said that I just wanted to tip my lid to him,” Mitchell said.
“He was still involved in the meetings, giving advice, talking to players and even game day – if you watch any of the vision from the rooms – he’s talking to players, trying to help us out in any way he can.”
Sewell was a late omission from Box Hill’s VFL grand final side on Sunday and looms as a replacement for midfielder Jordan Lewis should he not recover from a corked thigh sustained in the win over Port Adelaide.
Sewell has had an interrupted 2014 campaign.
He had to wait until round 10 to play his first senior game of the year and then injured his hamstring in the round 16 encounter with North Melbourne. He returned to the Hawthorn team in round 22 but played just three games – including his 200th AFL appearance in the qualifying final win over Geelong – before being dropped for the clash against the Power.
Sewell, originally from Newlyn, played in Hawthorn’s 2008 and 2013 grand final wins and also played in the losing grand final to Sydney in 2012.
tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au