Trent Mitton - One on One

Trent Mitton knows a thing or two about resilience, celebrating success and dealing with setbacks.

He will be the first to admit that being in the Kookaburras squad for over a decade has moulded the player and the person he is today.

Now, after hanging up his hockey stick for the national team and as he prepares to become a father for the first time, Mitton is gearing himself up for what’s next.

Despite calling time on his involvement as part of the current Kookaburras squad, Mitton has plenty to sink his teeth into, none more so than becoming a parent, playing hockey in Europe and devoting more time to his role as Co-Founder and Director of Brace for Innovation.

Following the announcement of his retirement from international hockey, Mitton took some time to reflect on what has been such a significant part of his life.

You were part of the team that won silver in Tokyo and since the Olympics you have been playing club hockey in Holland. Your partner is also due to give birth soon. It has been a big year for you.

TM: “It has been a pretty big year, full of some pretty amazing highs. Going to the Olympics and winning a silver medal and then going straight over and playing in the Dutch club competition for Amsterdam has been pretty amazing. Then I was in a rush to get home to be in Perth for the birth of our first child. She is due in a week so it’s getting close.”

You end your Kookaburras career as an Olympic silver medallist, triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist, dual Oceania Cup winner, FIH Pro League winner, Champions Trophy winner with 181 appearances and 82 goals. How do you look back on a career that began over ten years ago?

TM: “It’s interesting. I had a chat with Batchy (Colin Batch) last week and I probably thought I had a few good years left in me. Then having a chat with him we discussed that now was probably the best time. Over the last couple of days I have been thinking about it and reminiscing. I am really proud of what I’ve accomplished…now it is time for some younger guys to have a go at it and I’m really happy to be moving on.”

It is always a tough time for any athlete when their career comes to an end as it has been such a big part of your life. Is that how you feel about it?

TM: “That is probably the part I am struggling with most. It is something that has been part of my life for 11 years and something I thought about every day during that time. I am going to miss it a lot. The mates I’m not going to see every day and the good times that we have is what I’ll miss most. It is a bit of a scary feeling knowing that part of your life is over now and it’s on to the next thing.”

What has meant to you to be a part of the Kookaburras?

TM: “I have been lucky to have been part of the group for so long. The main thing I’ll miss are the friends I’ve made along the way. Not to say that I’m not going to see them outside of hockey, but I think being able to see your mates every day of the week is pretty special – not a lot of people get to do that. I have been part of so many amazing Kookaburras groups that have performed well at big events, that feeling after you win a tournament or a big game – there’s nothing that compares to it.”

Do you have a memory you look back on with fondness?

TM: “Probably the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It was probably my career highlight. I had a good tournament and to have my parents, my brother and my wife there as well was special.”

Every career has its highs and lows. How do you think these ups and downs have helped to shape you as the player and the person you are today?

TM: “I would definitely reflect on it or explain it as highs and lows but probably more a snap shot of how hard elite sport is and how hard it is to play hockey for Australia. There were times I was playing the best hockey of my life but wasn’t good enough to make a particular team which was extremely hard to take. I guess that’s the nature of being part of one of the most successful Australian sports teams. The lesson I’ve learnt out of it that I’m hoping to transfer to my life after hockey is just about resilience in that it’s not the end of the world if something goes wrong. You have to quickly move on or you will find yourself dwelling on it for too long.”

Is there anyone you want to thank or acknowledge?

TM: “I want to thank my sponsor Gryphon Hockey who have been looking after me my whole career. My parents Grant and Ceili, and my brother Joel for their amazing support over the years. They've been there for all the ups and downs and I've been very lucky to have them in the stands for a number of my games. Finally, my wife Lexi who has been a huge support for me during my time in the team. I owe a lot to her for the sacrifices she has had to make to help me be a part of the team for so long. I could not have done it without her.”

Your dad and grandfather both played for the Kookaburras. Are you proud to have continued on the Mitton name in the Kookaburras?

TM: “It has been pretty cool. Ever since I made my debut it has been the thing that journalists talk to me most about. It’s probably fair enough…it’s a pretty amazing story that I’m proud to be a part of continuing a hockey tradition in our family. No pressure on my daughter when she is born.”

So we won’t expect you to put a hockey stick in her crib when she is three months old?

TM: “Maybe at six months (laughs).”

What does the next chapter look like for you away from the Kookaburras?

TM: “I have definitely thought about the future. Outside of hockey I will be able to devote a lot more time to my business Brace for Innovation…I want to make the most of it. I’m hoping to play a couple of seasons in Europe, but more than anything I’m looking forward to giving back to my home club at Wesley South Perth and also playing for WA and the Thundersticks.

We call Perth home but with my wife being American, we want to move over to the states at some point and live that adventure as well. We want to go and live in a mountain town, somewhere with a white Christmas vibe and live in the hills in Colorado or somewhere like that. But I’m looking forward to getting back to Amsterdam and living without the pressures of the Kookaburras lifestyle.”

Finally, what do you love most about playing hockey?

TM: “I love scoring goals. Maybe it has helped me during my career in the low moments but I have always looked at hockey as a gift and a privilege. Especially at my home club, I get to play on the same team as my brother and a couple of my best mates. They are probably the parts I love the most, and scoring goals is always good fun.”