Mitch Hinge

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Mitch Hinge

| fullname = Mitchell Hinge

| image = Mitch Hinge 2019.6.jpg

| caption = Hinge in April 2019

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|06|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mundulla, South Australia{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/players/1292/mitchell-hinge#:~:text=Hinge%20grew%20up%20in%20the,is%20one%20of%20six%20children.|title=Mitchell Hinge {{!}} AFL|access-date=30 April 2025|website=lions.com.au}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = {{SANFL Gle}} (SANFL)
Mundulla (KNTFL)

| draftpick = No. 20, 2017 rookie draft

| debutdate = Round 9, 2019

| debutteam = {{AFL BL}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Ade}}

| debutstadium = The Gabba

| height = 190cm

| weight = 84kg

| position = Half-back

| currentclub = {{AFL Ade}}

| guernsey = 20

| years1 = 2017–2020

| club1 = {{AFL BL}}

| games_goals1 = 3 (1)

| years2 = 2021–

| club2 = {{AFL Ade}}

| games_goals2 = 69 (7)

| games_goalstotal = 72 (8)

| statsend = round 7, 2025

| careerhighlights =

}}

Mitchell Hinge (born 26 June 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Brisbane Lions and was drafted by Brisbane from {{SANFL Gle}} with the 20th selection in the 2017 rookie draft prior to the 2017 AFL season.

One of six children, he is the brother of former {{AFL Ade}} player John Hinge. He grew up in Mundulla on the Limestone Coast.

AFL career

=Brisbane=

Hinge made his debut in the win against {{AFL Ade}} at The Gabba in round nine of the 2019 season, following a string of strong performances in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) playing for Brisbane's reserves team.{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/afl/persistence-pays-off-for-brisbane-lions-defender-mitch-hinge/news-story/0f9650055c60623010fc383a3b6d5b88|title=Persistence pays off for Brisbane Lions defender Mitch Hinge|newspaper=The Mercury|last=Hamilton|first=Andrew|date=22 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019}} Hinge won two NEAFL premierships with the Lions in 2017 and 2019. After only 3 games between 2017 and the COVID-19-affected 2020 for Brisbane, Hinge was delisted by the club.{{cite web|title=Cut Lion goes to Crows as Brisbane delists five, re-signs veteran|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/525557/cut-lion-goes-to-crows-as-brisbane-delists-five-re-signs-veteran|first=Mitch|last=Cleary|date=25 November 2020|website=afl.com.au}}

=Adelaide=

The Adelaide Crows, who had interest in the South Australian, signed Hinge as a delisted free agent prior to the 2021 AFL season.{{cite web|title=Delisted Lions defender Mitch Hinge joins Adelaide|date=26 November 2020|first=Mitch|last=Keating|url=https://www.zerohanger.com/delisted-lions-defender-joins-rival-club-afl-adelaide-71071/|website=zerohanger.com|publisher=Zero Hanger|access-date=9 July 2024|archive-date=9 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709100245/https://www.zerohanger.com/delisted-lions-defender-joins-rival-club-afl-adelaide-71071/|url-status=live}} Hinge was one of three Crows to debut in the opening game of the 2021 season, which resulted in the biggest upset in Adelaide's history against {{AFL Gee}} at the Adelaide Oval. Unfortunately, Hinge severely injured his shoulder during the game, and did not recover in time to play again that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/998696/mitch-hinges-silver-lining-to-season-ending-injury|website=afc.com.au|publisher=Adelaide Football Club|title=Mitch Hinge's silver lining to season-ending injury|date=10 August 2021|first=Daniela|last=Harvey|access-date=9 July 2024|archive-date=9 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709100246/https://www.afc.com.au/news/998696/mitch-hinges-silver-lining-to-season-ending-injury|url-status=live}}

Prior to the 2024 AFL season, Hinge joined Adelaide's leadership group as one of the senior players of the club following his breakout season.{{cite news|title=Crows unveil new leaders|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/1492135/crows-unveil-new-leaders|publisher=Adelaide Football Club|date=20 February 2024|access-date=21 February 2024|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220223107/https://www.afc.com.au/news/1492135/crows-unveil-new-leaders|url-status=live}} He was relieved of the role the following year as the club shifted to a more refined leadership group,{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/1721205/crows-announce-2025-leaders|title=Crows announce 2025 leaders|website=afc.com.au|date=25 February 2025}} despite the defender averaging a career-high 22 disposals. During round 7 of 2025 against {{AFL Fre}}, Hinge struck opposition midfielder Andrew Brayshaw, resulting in a one-game suspension.{{cite web|title=The verdict is in: Gun Blues midfielder, Crows defender learn fate at Tribunal|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1310904/carlton-blues-midfielder-adelaide-crows-defender-mitch-hinge-face-afl-tribunal|date=30 April 2025|website=afl.com.au|author=AAP}}

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of 2024{{cite web|title=Mitch Hinge|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/M/Mitch_Hinge.html|work=AFLTables|access-date=25 November 2024|archive-date=4 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304102904/https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/M/Mitch_Hinge.html|url-status=live}}

| 2017 || {{AFL BL}} || 42 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –

| 2018 || {{AFL BL}} || 42 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –

| 2019

| {{AFL BL}}

| 22

| 2

| 1 || 0 || 16 || 12 || 28 || 6 || 3 || 0.5 || 0 || 8.0 || 6.0 || 14.0 || 3.0 || 1.5

| 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}}

| {{AFL BL}}

| 22

| 1

| 0 || 0 || 10 || 3 || 13 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 10.0 || 3.0 || 13.0 || 2.0 || 3.0

| 2021

| {{AFL Ade}}

| 20

| 1

| 0 || 0 || 6 || 1 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 6.0 || 1.0 || 7.0 || 3.0 || 0

| 2022

| {{AFL Ade}}

| 20