Ben Mitchell: Kangaroos player-coach relives the time of his life

Mitchell, 28, visited 27 countries during the more than two years he spent travelling after coaching the Roos in 2017.

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He resided mostly in London, Spain and Germany. The overall experience, he said, had matured him and made him more composed.

As a result, the mechanic believes he is now a better coach.

That is good news for a Kangaroos side looking to emerge from what Mitchell said was the worst lean spell in the club's history.

He is co-coaching the side with Nathan Vaisey. Both men are also playing.

The Roos confront reigning premiers Gunnedah in a season opener at Wolseley Oval on Saturday.

"I've certainly matured a lot," Mitchell said. "By travelling around you've gotta be very mature and make all these big decisions, I guess.

"I've certainly changed the way I look at life. I'm a lot more relaxed. I suppose I can thank the Spanish for that, because of their relaxed way of life."

Mitchell spent a large slice of his overseas adventure with his longtime partner, Tamworth school teacher and former Roo Danielle Abbott, whom he met through the club.

His Roos teammate, Ben Evenis, also travelled with them. All three played Aussie rules at the Putney Magpies in London

Last year the Leader detailed Evenis's overseas exploits.

Mitchell said: "The first time I was coaching, I thought too much about it ... Whereas now I get to training, I know what we've gotta do and I don't get worked up over it.

"We do the best we can and just enjoy being there, really."

Mitchell feels blessed to have travelled so much before COVID struck, giving a special shout-out to Ireland, Spain and Germany, although the pandemic still had a profound impact on his life.

Upon returning to Australia, he had hoped to start a new life in Wagga Wagga and play "a bit of higher class footy" with Charles Sturt University.

His tenure at the club was restricted to a couple of preseason games last year, after COVID passed through Australian customs without declaring itself. He ended up playing the Roos' last five games in 2020.

"Just with COVID and stuff it's hard to start fresh in a new town," he said, adding: "So I decided to come back and settle down here for a little bit."

He has "come to terms" with the fact that "footy for me is in Tamworth from now on".

When Mitchell surveys the Kangaroos' player roster, he likes what he sees. There was a healthy mix of youth and experience, he said.

That youth could be on full display against the Bulldogs: Billy Tydd and Jack Dadd would definitely play, he said, while James Valender and Zeb Douglas would probably lace up.

"The young guys coming through the next two or three years is really gonna hold the club in good stead," he said, adding that another Roos youngster, Luke Sing, is also "coming along nicely".

Having Vaisey as his co-coach was invaluable, he added.

Vaisey brought "a lot of structure" to the side and had played "a lot of high quality footy".

"And just having someone else in the same position [as you], just to bounce ideas off and talk to, really takes the pressure off just the one person."

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