The West Coast Eagles are determined to keep Sam Mitchell at the club.

That is the understanding of the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark who is reporting that the Eagles are “furious” their assistant coach has told club officials he wants to return home to Victoria.

Mitchell was told by West Coast in Hobart on the weekend that he is a required man and will not be given permission to leave at season’s end as he is contracted for another two years, having signed a four-year playing-coaching deal in 2016.

The Hawthorn champion, 35, played the 2017 AFL season as an Eagle before moving into the coaching caper and there is speculation that Melbourne-based clubs Carlton and St Kilda, as well as his old club the Hawks, are keen on acquiring his services.

SAINTS URGED TO GO AFTER TOP ASSISTANT COACHES

Mitchell is keen to return to Melbourne for family reasons but West Coast are rigid in their stance and may force him to work out of their office at the Docklands in 2019 as they are determined to retain him and hold him to the initial contract.

Second-placed West Coast take on Fremantle in the Western Derby at Optus Stadium on Sunday as they search for seven in a row against the Dockers.