I'd be interested to hear if Richo went through a similar period where every time he'd train/play he'd get an injury. Is he someone the club is assisting to be in contact and talk him through the process? Sometimes the best people to talk to are the guys that have gone through it as well.

I'd be interested to hear if Richo went through a similar period where every time he'd train/play he'd get an injury. Is he someone the club is assisting to be in contact and talk him through the process? Sometimes the best people to talk to are the guys that have gone through it as well.

Now I am not certain on this Pates but I remember hearing comment from him during 2013 and he said he was out for a year but did not suffer from other problems when he returned to serious training.

I am also confident that Garland had the same injury and was out for at least a year, he seemed fit back in without other leg injuries.

Dont know what the situation is with Mitch but he has suffered phyiscal and in all probability mental injuries as a direct result of his employment as an AFL player. He and everyone on this forum should expect the MFC to behave as any other well managed and operated business would and take responsibility for the problems Mitch is now experiencing and support him through the remainder of his time at the club in accordance with workcover and the clubs contractual obligations. How much he earns and how few games he has managed for the club is irrelevant. Mental health and salaries are agnostic to each other.

If as some on here suggest he was sacked I would expect he and the AFLPA to take legal action against the club. No one is allowed to sack employees for injuries they they have received as a result of there employment.

As a member of the leadership group I don't think he is sending a good message by 'running away'from his predicament, better he stay in Melbourne with the fam and team and be round the club showing strength in adversity, now I know some of you will be upset by that but I really think that should be the way he goes about it, he's not a first year player

His family is in Perth. And by using a term like "running away" you are just showing how much of a lack of understanding and maturity you have.

I'd be interested to hear if Richo went through a similar period where every time he'd train/play he'd get an injury. Is he someone the club is assisting to be in contact and talk him through the process? Sometimes the best people to talk to are the guys that have gone through it as well.

Now I am not certain on this Pates but I remember hearing comment from him during 2013 and he said he was out for a year but did not suffer from other problems when he returned to serious training.

I am also confident that Garland had the same injury and was out for at least a year, he seemed fit back in without other leg injuries.

Not true OD.

Richo has talked about how after his linsfranc he kept doing hammys all the time and had to totally change the way he ran.

I really hope Mitch is in touch with Richo.

I really hope Mitch is in touch with Richo.

I would suggest the only demand the club would be making ( if it is indeed mental health issues) is that Mitch talk to a professional - and a professional would indeed guide Mtich as to whether talking to players who have experienced similar problems was a good idea or not.

As a member of the leadership group I don't think he is sending a good message by 'running away'from his predicament, better he stay in Melbourne with the fam and team and be round the club showing strength in adversity, now I know some of you will be upset by that but I really think that should be the way he goes about it, he's not a first year player

Some things are bigger and more important than footy.

Like, for example, your mental well being.

I see that someone has also set up a Mitch Clark Support page on Facebook.

I don't use facebook, or twitter or those ilk.

so I'll post a message of support here for Mitch.

Right behind you Mitch, in appreciation of coming to Mfc, & the way you went about it, & the efforts & pain you've given. " I'll support you whatever " ! your decisions will be the best for your family, which in turn will be the best for us, at the same time.

this is s Spade

I cant help but feel many on Demonland would struggle with this.

No, this is a spade

If I was to speculate, I would say that here we have a guy who is under a lot of stress... he is due to get married in October, he is unable to play football and has no idea when he will be able to play again wthout fear of being injured yet again, he feels he is letting down his team mates and the MFC, he feels he is letting down supporters and I would not be surprised if he is getting a barrage of Tweets, Facebook comments/messages etc abusing him for some of the irrational reasons people on here seem to express relating to his salary and inability to get onto the field, and on top of all that, he would seem to have self doubts about his abilities as a photographer, his other great passion (from his photography FB page: "I really don't like most of my work but...").

Some space and the ability to play again without the fear of injury hanging over him will do wonders for his mental state... the enforced break will do him the world of good.

this does sound like someone who continually battles self doubt, & at a time when a long injury layoff & the guilt from feeling like your deeply indebted can act to magnify these doubts, culminating in stress, anxiety, & then depression.

this is rough on relationships.

perception goes to glass half empty, & then on.

he needs our total support, & We need him, & his desire for the contest, & aggression at the ball.

It is called democracy stuie you know that system we all live under.

It is one I actually like.

It gives the right of free speech.

Even when it is not a popular cause being given.

If you don't like someone's thoughts then ignore them they are usually not main stream.

I am not a fan of censorship it is not a good policy.

I am sure lots on here do not like my views on certain subjects or dare I say your views sometimes.

They don't call for my exclusion or yours that I have noticed.

So just get on with life the occasional over the top comment on Demonland will not bring down the MFC or the country.

well said old fella.

wheres ya pessimism gone? you sound pretty good.

we're on our way somewhere, & at least we are finally in good hands off field, since the late 80's. the ship is being steered by a real competent operator, & is starting to sail.

do you feel it too?

Just a question, one I have raised from time to time since the ND years - I think starting with issues around Jeff Farmer as I recall.

Does the club have or use a sports psychologist??

no doubt mono, but the question is does he? or others involved?

sometimes these things come up, before people seek assistance.

No, this is a spade

I see a playing card...an Ace to that matter

I'd be interested to hear if Richo went through a similar period where every time he'd train/play he'd get an injury. Is he someone the club is assisting to be in contact and talk him through the process? Sometimes the best people to talk to are the guys that have gone through it as well.

The difference is, to my knowledge, that Richo didn't come back and play while having screws in his foot, that moved and caused him pain and another extended lay-off, as happened to MC.

I think the doctors seriously erred in clearing MC to play with the screws in there with the intention of removing them after the season.

I know it meant a few more weeks out, but I think he should have had them removed before playing at all.

Hey guys, long time viewer first time poster today. My dad just had a chat with a person high within the club and asked about the details surrounding this Mitch Clark stuff. He said that Mitch's foot is absolutely 100% fixed and no problems what so ever. He apparently has been out of the game so long that every time he tries to train, he gives himself a new injury. This is why we have been hearing the hamstring problems, calf problems etc. etc. He has said to have told the club he is a 50-50 chance of retiring in the next few weeks from afl. He has been granted leave by the club so he can go home and get his mind off everything and hopefully come back with the desire to still want to get back to training and playing for us. I really hope that after his break away from the club he will decide he still has unfinished business at MFC and wants to keep trying!

Welcome, not everyone on here is a moron. Thanks for the info. Get well soon Mitch.

well said old fella.

wheres ya pessimism gone? you sound pretty good.

we're on our way somewhere, & at least we are finally in good hands off field, since the late 80's. the ship is being steered by a real competent operator, & is starting to sail.

do you feel it too?

You know dee-luded Most people who know me tell me I am positive person.

I understand why some people on Demonland think the reverse.

I believe I put the real situation case, as it happens the MFC has been a sorry mess both on and off the field for now the better part of a decade.

So putting that position naturally looks negative, I am not into gilding the lily.

I actually admire people like the Reverend who seem to be able to find some good amongst a hay stack of crap.

But if I live long enough I will be very positive when we are in the top four.

Go Dees

I desperately need a win on Saturday

It is called democracy stuie you know that system we all live under.

It is one I actually like.

It gives the right of free speech.

Even when it is not a popular cause being given.

If you don't like someone's thoughts then ignore them they are usually not main stream.

I am not a fan of censorship it is not a good policy.

I am sure lots on here do not like my views on certain subjects or dare I say your views sometimes.

They don't call for my exclusion or yours that I have noticed.

So just get on with life the occasional over the top comment on Demonland will not bring down the MFC or the country.

good post

You know dee-luded Most people who know me tell me I am positive person.

I understand why some people on Demonland think the reverse.

I believe I put the real situation case, as it happens the MFC has been a sorry mess both on and off the field for now the better part of a decade.

So putting that position naturally looks negative, I am not into gilding the lily.

I actually admire people like the Reverend who seem to be able to find some good amongst a hay stack of crap.

But if I live long enough I will be very positive when we are in the top four.

Go Dees

I desperately need a win on Saturday

I am wildly, excitedly and enthusiastically guarded about our coming season. Its the best I can do.

...

You know dee-luded Most people who know me tell me I am positive person.

I understand why some people on Demonland think the reverse.

..

It's not that you, like most of us, are depressed about our form in recent years. It's that when anything happens, you can be relied upon to look at it negatively.

I'm your mirror image- friends usually regard me as pretty negative, but on here I appear like a wide-eyed optimist.

I hope a win will cheer you up.

It's not that you, like most of us, are depressed about our form in recent years. It's that when anything happens, you can be relied upon to look at it negatively.

I'm your mirror image- friends usually regard me as pretty negative, but on here I appear like a wide-eyed optimist.

I hope a win will cheer you up.

I present as not getting too carried away and too positive - I like to think of it as balanced - but I go to every game with the belief that we will win. Even when we play Hawthorn I imagine them getting a couple of crucial injuries early and 18 of our players playing blinders.

Alas I am delusional.

Jones didn't seem to have written off the idea of mitchy playing again

I present as not getting too carried away and too positive - I like to think of it as balanced - but I go to every game with the belief that we will win. Even when we play Hawthorn I imagine them getting a couple of crucial injuries early and 18 of our players playing blinders.

Alas I am delusional.

I think you meant to say "when we play Hawthorn I imagine them getting 18 crucial injuries early and a couple of our players playing blinders." Otherwise it's not a realistic option.

No, this is a spade

actually its the Ace of Spades

Some things are bigger and more important than footy.

Like, for example, your mental well being.

Some things are bigger and more important than footy.

Like, for example, your mental well being.

Lordweaver is a man of many concerns .

Mental well being not being one of them.