He was a fast and clever footballer, a beautiful drop kick and very elusive; he had an astounding ability to anticipate opponents and popped up unexpectedly just where he was needed.
In his early career he played on the forward line – he played at full-forward in the side that lost 7.11 (53) to Geelong's 9.7 (61) in the 1955 first semi-final – and, as his career progressed he developed into Essendon's first specialist ruck-rover who, for many years rucked in tandem with Geoff Leek, alternating with Mal Pascoe.
Mitchell left Essendon after the second round of the 1967 season, when both he and Jack Clarke retired following their protests at their unceremonious relegation to the seconds, following the firsts' embarrassing losses to Richmond and St Kilda respectively in the first two rounds.
As a ruck-rover, he played in Dandenong's controversial 1967 Grand Final victory over Port Melbourne at the Punt Road Oval.
He left Dandenong at the end of 1973, and was appointed a special promotional officer at the Essendon Football Club; his special duties included assisting in the coaching of promising young players in the Essendon District Football League in 1974 and 1975.