‘Very good coach’: Eddie McGuire and Jimmy Bartel defend Sam Mitchell as pressure mounts

Eddie McGuire and Jimmy Bartel have both backed the credentials of under-fire Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, saying patience is required as they continue their rebuild.

The Hawks were smashed by a red-hot Sydney outfit by 76 points on Sunday, just a fortnight after being similarly taken apart by Gold Coast.

But despite some criticism now being levelled at Mitchell, McGuire says he remains a fan of the direction he’s taking Hawthorn in.

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“I think Sam Mitchell is a very good coach,” he told the Eddie and Jimmy podcast.

“I like the way he’s doing things, people need to realise that (developing a team) take a little bit of time. I still actually like the look of Hawthorn, I think they’re a long way forward.”

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel said he was also on-board with what Mitchell is doing at the Hawks in his third year as senior coach.

“I’m a buyer of Hawthorn under Sam Mitchell,” Bartel added.

‘Very good coach’: Eddie McGuire and Jimmy Bartel defend Sam Mitchell as pressure mounts