Border Mail |
JOHN Mitchell’s life is a balancing act — on and off the horse. The Albury ace is just as at home sitting on the back of a bucking brumby as he is on the football field.
Finding enough time to enjoy both often proves a difficult task at this time of the year.
If you hadn’t noticed, Mitchell has missed Albury’s past two matches.
Why? The boy from Tooma sat out last Saturday’s clash against Wodonga Raiders because of soreness after missing the blockbuster against Wangaratta Rovers due to unavailability.
How come? Horse riding.
Mitchell, 22, claimed the King of the Ranges’ title at Murrurundi a fortnight ago, adding to his swag of recent stockman’s challenge titles, but there was a slight hiccup — a horse fell on him.
Panic stations for the Tigers?
No, they’ve dealt with it before.
Mitchell’s 2009 season was constantly interrupted after a similar incident left Mitchell with a haematoma on his leg.
Rather than pull rank on Mitchell’s thrill-seeking ways, Albury has learnt to embrace them.
A happy Mitchell equals a happy footballer and a more than handy one at that.
“If he could ride horses all day, every day, he would,” co-coach Chris Hyde said this week.
“He’s definitely a cowboy and farm boy at heart.”
Mitchell found it hard to disagree with that claim.
“I grew up on a horse, basically,” Mitchell said.
“I’ve been on the farm out there since I was born and so I’ve been right into horses since I was a kid.
“It took a bit for Spargs (former coach Paul Spargo) to get used to because he’s mad on his footy but the club has been really good — it’s the best club getting around, I reckon.
“The culture is great and the players and staff have all been good to me.
“I’ve shown Hydey a few good shooting spots.”
In a day and age where Ovens and Murray footballers are spending more and more time at their clubs, Hyde said the notoriously professional Tigers were happy to leave Mitchell to his own devices.
He trains at the Sportsground on Tuesday and with Upper Murray league club Cudgewa on Thursday.
It hasn’t affected his form.
“I guess the bottom line is he is going to play good footy if he’s happy,” Hyde said.
“We give him a fair bit of flexibility.
“He trains well and we know he’ll be doing the right things away from the club.”
Mitchell is the first to admit he’s cut from a different cloth to most of his Tiger teammates but he, nor they, seem to mind.
“There’s not too many boys like me at the club,” he said.
Mitchell spent last year away from the familiar surrounds of Albury Sportsground to try his hand at cattle mustering in far north Queensland, and trips varying from two to 25 kilometres on horseback each day.
He loved every minute of it and, more importantly for Albury’s sake, it re-ignited his passion for football.
“It was unreal up there but I spent a bit of time watching rugby,” Mitchell said.
“I don’t like rugby.
“When I came back I really wanted to play footy again.”
