It’s been a big week in the Mitchell household. Today, Drew became the round 13 Syd Guildford nominee for his performance against Broadbeach on Saturday, and on Monday, he and partner Casey welcomed their first born, Scarlett, into the world.

“I don’t know what sleep is anymore and it’s only been two days,” Mitchell joked.

Mitchell was a huge cog in the Western Magpies midfield that grinded out a win against Broadbeach on the weekend.

Not only did he get a heap of the pill, he managed to get on his bike and become damaging up forward, finishing with two majors.

“The good thing about our team at the moment is that there are no individual stars at times, it’s such a blanket effort, on any given day anyone can step up and do something, kick a goal or get the team to lift, I was just lucky it was me on the weekend,” he said.

The Magpies walked away with the four points, but it was a dogfight in the middle.

“They are really aggressive. They love to get in and tackle, and they are a great attacking running side,” Mitchell said.

“I found them very hard to chase, a bit like Labrador in that regard, they run hard forward, so you are always up against it.

Mitchell has played every game in the seniors this year, something he puts down to getting miles in the legs.

“I think being fit. At the start of last year I got a job up north outside of Ingham, so I didn’t have a big pre-season. So when I came back home, it was great to get a full pre-season under my belt,” he said.

“Now that the running is there, getting the football is a lot easier.”

While he might head the list of possessions week in week out, he is a very important role player.

“It’s just about playing my role at the moment. I’m probably not going to get 30 possessions like Ben Janke-Caine does every week, I’ve just been playing my role and doing what I have to do for the team, and it’s been pretty consistent in that regard,” Mitchell said.

As for what that role is?

“I don’t want to give all our secrets away, it’s about just living by our rules. Defend first, and two way running,” he said.

It’s been a great year to date for the boys from Chelmer, there two games against Labrador this year still don’t sit well with him.

“The first one, you could say we were coming off a bit of a high in round 1 only losing by two points to Morningside because we didn’t know who we were as a group, but the second one definitely,” he said.

“There were times in that third quarter when they were kicking away when we had just as many opportunities, to lose the way we have stings a lot.

“We are better than that; we just haven’t put it together against them.”

They might have risen quickly up the ranks in 2015, but the Western Magpies certainly aren’t content with stopping there.

“We want to win a flag. At the end of the day that’s what we are all about. We have still got some pretty good teams we have to beat, but I want to win that flag,” Mitchell said.

“If we can’t do that, to keep improving and be bigger and better for next year.”

Fans will get a taste for finals a few months early this year when the Magpies travel to Wilston Grange this Saturday, to replay the game that was washed out earlier in the year.

By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles

PHOTO: Drew Mitchell is pictured first from the right