Mitch Owens
| Mitch Owens | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Owens in March 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Mitchito Owens | ||
| Born | 24 September 2003 | ||
| Original team | Sandringham Dragons | ||
| Draft | No. 33, 2021 AFL draft | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2022, St Kilda vs. Collingwood, at Marvel Stadium | ||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | St Kilda | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2022– | St Kilda | 74 (78) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2026. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Mitchito Owens (born 24 September 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted in the 2021 AFL draft at pick number 33 overall.
Early life
Playing for Beaumaris as a junior, Owens was awarded best on ground in the upset 2015 grand final win over Prahran.[1] He played forward pocket for Beaumaris in 2019[2] and played school football for Mentone Grammar in the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria competition.
Owens was a member of St Kilda's Next Generation Academy, a pathway for Indigenous and multicultural footballers who are typically under-represented and clubs incentivised with draft concessions.[3]
In his draft year, Owens was tipped as a potential first-round draft pick after averaging 23.3 disposals, 5.7 marks and 3.7 inside 50s from his final three NAB League games.[4] Owens played for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League and impressed in a game against Greater Western Victoria Rebels, collecting 25 disposals, seven clearances and five inside-50s. Owens was also a late call-up to Vic Metro's clash with Vic Country in July and picked up 29 disposals and a goal.[5]
AFL career
At the 2021 AFL draft on 25 November 2021, St Kilda matched a bid by Sydney with draft points for Owens and ultimately took him with pick 33 overall.[6] Owens made his AFL debut in Round 1, 2022, against Collingwood, collecting six disposals and two tackles. He was dropped back to the VFL following his debut game.
Owens earned a recall to the senior team in Round 11 against North Melbourne and put in an impressive display with 14 disposals, 10 tackles and 2 goals; however, in the following game, against Brisbane, a concussion forced him to sit on the sidelines for several weeks. He returned to the side in Round 20 against Hawthorn and played the final four games of the season.
2023
Owens was selected in the senior team in Round 1 of the 2023 season and quickly established himself as a core member of newly appointed coach Ross Lyon's best 22 in the absence of regular key forwards Max King and Tim Membrey, playing predominantly forward with stints in the midfield and deputising in the ruck. Owens was nominated for the AFL Rising Star in Round 4 against Gold Coast Suns after a 27-disposal, 2-goal game.[7] In Round 10, Owens was substituted out in the second quarter as the result of a concussion in which his head collided with teammate Anthony Caminiti's knee, and subsequently missed the following match under the concussion protocols. Owens was recalled for the next match in Round 13 after St Kilda's bye, playing every match from then on to qualify the Saints for the finals in 6th place and an elimination final, including 4 goals against West Coast Eagles. Throughout the backend of the season, Owens was considered to be one of three favourites for the 2023 AFL Rising Star alongside Harry Sheezel and Will Ashcroft, eventually finishing third with 33 votes behind Sheezel (winner, 54) and Ashcroft (second, 39), receiving maximum votes from Nathan Buckley and at least 2 votes from every judge on the panel. Owens capped off his season by finishing fourth in the Trevor Barker Award, receiving the Saints' Best Emerging Player award alongside teammate Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, and being named in the 22 Under 22 team, also alongside Wanganeen-Milera.
Following a breakout year in 2023, Owens' role shifted at St Kilda. While matching his previous-best 23 appearances in 2023, his influence in 2024 was stifled by further responsibility as a second ruck.[8] Following a contract extension to the end of 2029,[9] Owens returned to some of his best form in 2025, kicking 25 goals before a late-season hamstring injury.[10]
Family and personal life
Owens was born to a Japanese mother, Maki,[11] who is originally from Yokohama.[12] He is the first cousin of American football punter Tory Taylor who plays for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL).[13]
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.[14]
G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks | H/O
|
Hit-outs |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | |||||
| 2022 | St Kilda | 24 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 34 | 74 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 10.6 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0 |
| 2023 | St Kilda | 10 | 23 | 26 | 16 | 187 | 159 | 346 | 83 | 87 | 49 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 8.1 | 6.9 | 15.0 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 0 |
| 2024 | St Kilda | 10 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 161 | 122 | 283 | 74 | 62 | 12 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 12.3 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0 |
| 2025 | St Kilda | 10 | 19 | 25 | 16 | 141 | 104 | 245 | 65 | 35 | 32 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 12.9 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0 |
| 2026 | St Kilda | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 29 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 10.5 | 4.0 | 14.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | TBA |
| Career | 74 | 78 | 52 | 550 | 427 | 977 | 248 | 215 | 99 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 7.4 | 5.8 | 13.2 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0 | ||
References
- ^ "#ThrowbackThursday – 2015 U12 West Grand Final". SMJFL. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ Ralphsmith, Jonty. ""Small forward pocket" to prototype wingman: Mitch Owens' transformation". sandringhamdragons.com.au.
- ^ "AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "AFL Draft Whispers: Rival could pinch Mitch Owens from Saints' grasp; Wanganeen unlikely to be nominated for father-son". Fox Sports. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "Twomey's Draft Team of the Year: NGA Saint steps up, Cannons mid firing". afl.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "Owens makes history as inaugural Academy selection". saints.com.au. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ Beveridge, Riley (28 April 2023). "Teenage dream: Saints' surprise star rises above the pack". afl.com.au.
- ^ Negrepontis, Nic (5 March 2025). "Why 2025 is a big year for rising St Kilda star as contract announcement beckons". 1116 SEN. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Owens extends until '29". saints.com.au. 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Injury Update: Forward out for season". saints.com.au. 5 August 2025.
- ^ Ryan, Michael (15 October 2018). "'Holistic approach' sees NGA thrive". saints.com.au.
- ^ Nice, Chris (19 June 2024). "Mitch & Marcus: The story behind two inseparable Saints". saints.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Twomey, Callum (18 January 2026). "Why this young Saint will be watching the NFL playoffs closer than most". afl.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Mitch Owens". AFL Tables. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
External links
- Mitch Owens's profile on the official website of the St Kilda Football Club
- Mitch Owens's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Mitch Owens at AustralianFootball.com