The Hawks skipper jumped to new Richmond coach Damien Hardwick's defence, comparing the Tigers to Hawthorn when coach Alastair Clarkson arrived at the club.
"It might be some frustrating times for some Richmond supporters, but if you stick with Damien Hardwick, you're not going to go too far off the right track,'' Mitchell said.
"If you go back to us in 2005, Clarko's first year, you would find all the players who are playing now, we were heavily criticised. Our kicking efficiency was 16th and Hawthorn was heavily criticised. It takes a little time to learn new structures. I think their (Tigers) skill level is OK, it's just perhaps putting it together and knowing where your teammate is going to run. Once you play together for a while, you become well poised.
"If you look at the premiership sides, generally your back six play the whole season together. You look at Geelong's, it hardly changes. And they get Josh Hunt back into that mix and that's a key part to a successful side, having players play together and Richmond hasn't got that right now.''
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,26730883-5016169,00.html