Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell has expressed interested in joining AFL rivals West Coast.

The star midfielder, a member of four premiership-winning teams across 307 games with the Hawks, has been secretly working on the move for weeks on the back of a suggestion from coach Alastair Clarkson.

“It could be a win for Hawthorn and help free up the salary cap …and hopefully I can go over and help West Coast” Mitchell told Melbourne radio station SEN.