Stan Mitchell

Recruited from Oak Park in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Stan Mitchell was a serviceable half-forward and midfielder who broke into the North Melbourne senior side as a teenager. Standing 180cm, he showed genuine promise during the 1972 season, playing 13 games and kicking eight goals while averaging 12 disposals in a team that was struggling to find consistency. Despite establishing himself as a regular contributor that year, Mitchell’s time at Arden Street coincided with the final days before the club’s aggressive "checkbook" era transformed the list. His VFL career was ultimately a casualty of the massive squad overhaul that occurred ahead of the 1973 season, as the arrival of coach Ron Barassi and several high-profile recruits squeezed incumbent fringe players out of the lineup just before the Kangaroos' golden era began.