The Mitch Clark Thread

[pantaloons 2,019]

I think if this doesn't come off we will have to drop it, we can't be seen to be hawking ourselves to whatever/whoever is available, it's not a nice look and smacks of desperation.

I think if Neeld and the FD want a key forward, they'll keep looking to address this need in the trade period. That may mean looking at people from Clark to Setanta. I think it's more due diligence than desperation.

[Pates 9,660]

Barret said that Young, Clark's manager, is a very good trade week operator, and one of the player managers that handles the trade situation very well.

We could be getting played here.

There's always one club that is used to light a fire under another club's ass, to be fair on our us we have a clear intention on what we want and we're having a good hard crack at it. If it does turn out we're being used I'm still happy with the way we've gone about it.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I think if Neeld and the FD want a key forward, they'll keep looking to address this need in the trade period. That may mean looking at people from Clark to Setanta. I think it's more due diligence than desperation.

If we look at Sultana; that is desperation.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

If we look at Sultana; that is desperation.

i would truly cry

[Pennant St Dee 13,173]

and even if we don't get clark Freo now will have to use pick 16 & 20. They have already given up the compensation pick gievn to them which I am sure they intented to use next year. Not sure who it was or in which thread but a demonland posted did say when dealing with trades and picks it is not always about the now

[Dee Fan 3,247]

This years draft is thin and there seems to be 8 to 10 that are ok and after that it is ordinary, it depends on club needs who falls outside the top players and who will be there at 12 but I have a feeling that we will be saying meh when our selection is read out. I hope not but it may be the case.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

This years draft is thin and there seems to be 8 to 10 that are ok and after that it is ordinary, it depends on club needs who falls outside the top players and who will be there at 12 but I have a feeling that we will be saying meh when our selection is read out. I hope not but it may be the case.

Especially as now GWS have such a strangle hold they can gamble that Port and the Lions wont take the KPP talent so they take an extra mid ect, so we probably wont get the mids we want a 12.

At12 we are the 3rd non GWS pick, crazy stuff

[hoopla 418]

I think if this doesn't come off we will have to drop it, we can't be seen to be hawking ourselves to whatever/whoever is available, it's not a nice look and smacks of desperation.

To me its a great move .We went into the draft with money to spend ( the money put aside for Scully). If we can't pull a big- bodied big monied player in next year, we'll have to pay our current list above the odds to meet the 92.5% minimum payment rule.

Clark is a special talent .... and he wants out of Brisbane. His preference may be Perth - but word is that his main aim is to get out of Brisbane. Rawlings knows the man - and he knows his motives Now that Dawes is out of the picture - why not try to put something together that will get Clark down here?He would add size, depth, flexibility to our list. He'd make a huge difference to us leading into our premiership window.

You can't compare Clark to Setanta .We could pick up Setanto for a song if we wanted a protector on the forward line for the next year or two ... or a work horse to help out at training.

Nothing ventured.... nothing gained

Think about it, Mitch!!

[Dee Fan 3,247]

To me its a great move .We went into the draft with money to spend ( the money put aside for Scully). If we can't pull a big- bodied big monied player in next year, we'll have to pay our current list above the odds to meet the 92.5% minimum payment rule.

Clark is a special talent .... and he wants out of Brisbane. His preference may be Perth - but word is that his main aim is to get out of Brisbane. Rawlings knows the man - and he knows his motives Now that Dawes is out of the picture - why not try to put something together that will get Clark down here?He would add size, depth, flexibility to our list. He'd make a huge difference to us leading into our premiership window.

You can't compare Clark to Setanta .We could pick up Setanto for a song if we wanted a protector on the forward line for the next year or two ... or a work horse to help out at training.

Nothing ventured.... nothing gained

Think about it, Mitch!!

I'd be very happy to see him there but I just have a gut feeling that the pull of family will see him go to Perth, hope not but I wouldn't blame him for it. Sick grandmother family over there; hard for him to resist.

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

The important thing to remember is that Clark is being sought because it's deemed by Mark Neeld that he'll be valuable to the structure and gameplan that he wants to implement. Clearly the club wants to give Neeld every opportunity to succeed. The concept of getting Clark appeals to me as I like him as a footballer and believe he'll compliment our forward line while providing ruck relief.

Clark is roughly 198-200 cms tall and a better player than David Hale, who proved valuable to Hawthorn this year. He's also coming into his prime. There's no doubt he's a talent, but he's also been inconsistent. I'm pretty confident that the Mitchell Clark of 24-28 will be a significantly better player than the Mitch Clark of 20-23. It's not easy for clubs to get their hands on ready made talent, especially those of the tall variety, so not only do Melbourne improve their playing stocks they also gain ground on opposition clubs.

That said, Freo are no doubt favourite to gain his services. However, if we do land him it will be seen to be a massive coup.

is he bigger than you ben?

[Jordie_tackles 354]

is he bigger than you ben?

boom

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Hold onto your socks guys, just found this out

What's more, Clark's brother lives in the Victorian capital so he would at least be close to some family.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/dockers-face-fresh-challenge-over-mitch-clark/story-e6frg1xu-1226166250662

So turns out that Mitches Brother lives on Melbourne or something....Might be enough to have him take the money?

Still doesnt cover the fact that his Grandmother is turminoly ill with cancer, and 2 cousins apparently due for bail, both in Perth

Which were the original links home

[DeeM 42]

It would be awesome to get him. but let sort something out first.

when White left the club we didn't look like having anything good in the ruck department for years, then Jamar comes along out of no where.

he's had 3-4 great seasons after we have waited so long, and now people want to get rid of him??!?!?!?!?!

So many people have spoken about getting the culture right at this club. Getting rid of Jamar, just to get a good pick is exactly the attitude that the club is trying to get rid of.

lets give him the respect that he deserves and remember how much of a shining light he has been the last few years.

[rpfc 28,433]

He isn't a replacement for Jamar.

His manager said that Freo saw him in the forward line and that excited him.

If he comes here he will have the same opportunity.

Jamar and Martin can rest in the forward line and Clark will stay there for most of the time. That will be the hypothetical structure.

[Pates 9,660]

It would be awesome to get him. but let sort something out first.

when White left the club we didn't look like having anything good in the ruck department for years, then Jamar comes along out of no where.

he's had 3-4 great seasons after we have waited so long, and now people want to get rid of him??!?!?!?!?!

So many people have spoken about getting the culture right at this club. Getting rid of Jamar, just to get a good pick is exactly the attitude that the club is trying to get rid of.

lets give him the respect that he deserves and remember how much of a shining light he has been the last few years.

I've resisted using the "like" button, just because i'm kinda sick of it from facebook. But I couldn't resist, I could not agree with you more, so many on this board have been guilty (probably me included at times) of demanding loyalty from players and hating them for taking better options, but then are quite happy to just toss them aside when the "right deal" comes along.

Footy clubs are built on more than just good players and high draft picks (something GWS will learn very quickly), you keep the good players around for as long as possible so they leave a legacy. If Jamar stays with us until the end of his career he will be a one club player, something that is rare. He will have a story of someone that for ages was on the fringe and at times possibly in line to be cut, but he stuck at it and we stuck with him and he became an AA ruckman. We need to keep him around, so that when the times comes that he hangs up the boots he'll want to stay a part of the club.

We've got this great period of past players from the mid/late 90s that have come to the party to show they care, tell me how many from 2000 onwards have stuck around?

[RalphiusMaximus 6,053]

It would be awesome to get him. but let sort something out first.

when White left the club we didn't look like having anything good in the ruck department for years, then Jamar comes along out of no where.

he's had 3-4 great seasons after we have waited so long, and now people want to get rid of him??!?!?!?!?!

So many people have spoken about getting the culture right at this club. Getting rid of Jamar, just to get a good pick is exactly the attitude that the club is trying to get rid of.

lets give him the respect that he deserves and remember how much of a shining light he has been the last few years.

I admit I've only looked at the last page or so, but I haven't seen anyone saying we need to drop Jamar. Why would we? He's dominant in the ruck and a dangerous presence forward. If anything, the move on Clarke might put Stef under the pump. It seems from the way the club has moved this week that they are looking for a strong forward, not another ruck. That's not a threat to Jamar, although it casts doubts on the future of Fitzpatrick and Cook.

[Tap..Tap..Tappy.. 2]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-big-man-mitch-clark-in-line-for-3m-payday/story-fn69a32t-1226166306148

Sounds like it is going down to the wire....Hopefully money is more important than family for Mitch

Also, Dogs offered pick 39 for Bate.....Dees want a first round for him....Good luck...

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

Can we please land this bloke? It will really give me something to get excited about.. Take the cash mitch!!

[pantaloons 2,019]

Also, Dogs offered pick 39 for Bate.....Dees want a first round for him....Good luck...

I read that minutes ago and am still trying to process it. Unbelievable. I don't know what Neeld sees in him and perhaps he's hoping he can perform a big-bodied midfielder's role, but I think pick 39 was more than fair for a player of Bate's limitations who couldn't crack a game for most of the season in our rancid midfield/forwardline.

[Rolling Stone 157]

When was the last time you saw him play?

A strange question to ask about a player who injured his acl in late April and won't be available to play until Round 10 next year.

I don't think we'll get Clark but if we do then Spencer will most certainly become surplus to our requirements and, while I wouldn't call him a "sweetener", he might be the right type for inclusion in the deal somewhere.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

As others have noted there in not a lot to lose here, it seems that he had his heart set on Freo and we are making sure that Freo pays market value.

I don't think we will get him but it certainly not a waste of time to make Freo pay up.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

This would be a further massive momentum builder for this club if we land him. Bring it home, Mr Harrington.

[Redleg 40,925]

http://www.heraldsun...t-1226166306148

Sounds like it is going down to the wire....Hopefully money is more important than family for Mitch

Also, Dogs offered pick 39 for Bate.....Dees want a first round for him....Good luck...

How do you get a first round for a bloke who played VFL all year? I could understand higher 2nd round or upgrade. That said we are obviously prepared to deal so we have time to sort it out.

[Redleg 40,925]

Can't say we haven't gone all out for Clark, with a top contract offer, a good pick offered and Coach, Ceo, List Manager and Lions former assistant Coach all flying up yesterday to make the pitch in person.

I could not criticise the club on its efforts on this deal if we fail.

Edited October 13, 2011 by Redleg

[old dee 23,791]

Can't say we haven't gone all out for Clark, with a top contract offer, a good pick offered and Coach, Ceo, List Manager and Lions former assistant Coach all flying up yesterday to make the pitch in person.

Yes we cannot do much more IMO.

I still find it hard to believe we will not end up in WA.

He seems hell bent on returning to WA.

Freo will increase their offer a little and give more to Brisbane and that will be the end of it.

But 10 out of 10 for effort.