Mitch Clark at training today

[puntkick 325]

As someone who suffers from depression on and off, I can assure you that looking well and having a great time don't mean a whole lot long term. Or at least in my experience. Having said that, it's great to see that Mitch has taken the time to come out and made the call that he's ready. Small steps. You never get cured, you just learn to live with the predisposition and hopefully Mitchy is well on the way.

HFF I offer you my most sincere congratulations for coming out and I will stand by you for ever.

Alas I reluntanctly have to question the financial cost to our club of this decision.

Does anyone at the AFL or the " Johny Come Latelys " at the MFC consider our depression ?

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Typical Pedersen.

Goes alright, but he's all about himself.

You'll never see him give the ball off inside 50.

One of the reasons he was disliked at North.

Wow, that bit about Pedo makes me physically ill.

I'm hoping to god we get rid of him at season's end.

Yes, gents.....let's hang a bloke after how many? 30 games?

You're all asking for patience with our players under a new coaching regime, surely Pedo deserves a chance to benefit too?

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Yes, gents.....let's hang a bloke after how many? 30 games?

You're all asking for patience with our players under a new coaching regime, surely Pedo deserves a chance to benefit too?

Pains me to say it, but "the Pedo" has actually been good for us the past few games.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

Yes, gents.....let's hang a bloke after how many? 30 games?

You're all asking for patience with our players under a new coaching regime, surely Pedo deserves a chance to benefit too?

Verbal report of a single incident at training, seen from the other side of the fence. Of course he has to hang - he might not give us another opportunity for a while.

[Generation dee 1,336]

Pains me to say it, but "the Pedo" has actually been good for us the past few games.

Why on earth does it "pain you to say it"?

Shouldn't we actually be happy that a player, no matter how maligned, has shown signs of improvement??

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Why on earth does it "pain you to say it"?

Shouldn't we actually be happy that a player, no matter how maligned, has shown signs of improvement??

Because i have cursed his name since he got here.

Edited May 1, 2014 by The Song Formerly Known As

[old dee 23,880]

Why on earth does it "pain you to say it"?

Shouldn't we actually be happy that a player, no matter how maligned, has shown signs of improvement??

I think I share his feelings.

For me it means I have to admit I got it wrong in regards Pedersen.

That is the pain I think Gd is referring to.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I think I share his feelings.

For me it means I have to admit I got it wrong in regards Pedersen.

That is the pain I think Gd is referring to.

Gd? God, me? Ol' Dee, you flatter me...

[old dee 23,880]

Gd? God, me? Ol' Dee, you flatter me...

Sorry mate small slip i hope you will accept my sincere apology.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Sorry mate small slip i hope you will accept my sincere apology.

Indian giver...

[Carlos Danger 380]

Typical Pedersen.

Goes alright, but he's all about himself.

You'll never see him give the ball off inside 50.

One of the reasons he was disliked at North.

10 seconds into this clip suggests otherwise...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fTIohHdp_Q

Edited May 1, 2014 by Carlos Danger

[Machsy 2,858]

Yes, gents.....let's hang a bloke after how many? 30 games?

You're all asking for patience with our players under a new coaching regime, surely Pedo deserves a chance to benefit too?

Didn't say I wanted to sack him or that it won't change, but it's a trend I've noticed.

[Earl Hood 6,103]

10 seconds into this clip suggests otherwise...

Gee put in a blinder in that game. Would like to see more of that playing for us.

[Carlos Danger 380]

Gee put in a blinder in that game. Would like to see more of that playing for us.

With a genuine supporting cast around him he's a player.

The Neeld era was the worst time for him to be acquired and he's still copping way too much flack on here for that, he'll be far more prevalent under Roos.

[hardtack 10,654]

Is he still technically on our list til seasons end?

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-05-01/clark-officially-no-longer-a-demon

[PJ_12345 1,098]

With a genuine supporting cast around him he's a player.

The Neeld era was the worst time for him to be acquired and he's still copping way too much flack on here for that, he'll be far more prevalent under Roos.

Albeit the only time he would have been acquired would be in the Neeld era.

I don't think many coaches, ie Roos, would have picked up Pedo.

[Machsy 2,858]

10 seconds into this clip suggests otherwise...

Fair enough, maybe I overstated it.

But he is running away from goals here.

Anyway, I've seen a lot of selfish acts from him, especially this year.

Probably trying to do more personally to ensure he keeps his spot in the side, but there have been times when it has been to the detriment of the team.

[Coq au vin 755]

Is he still technically on our list til seasons end?

the club and he have reached an agreement. From MFC website:"MITCH Clark's departure from Melbourne has been made official, with the two parties agreeing to terms relating to his retirement."

[Earl Hood 6,103]

With a genuine supporting cast around him he's a player.

The Neeld era was the worst time for him to be acquired and he's still copping way too much flack on here for that, he'll be far more prevalent under Roos.

Yes I agree and gives us hope that there is a tipping point where eventually we get some game breakers and makers who dominate enough to then allow the Pedersons of the team to flourish. Then suddenly the bit players start to perform above their own expectations. We live in hope that we develop that supporting cast!

[Carlos Danger 380]

Albeit the only time he would have been acquired would be in the Neeld era.

I don't think many coaches, ie Roos, would have picked up Pedo.

He wasn't picked up, he was traded for (with another year to go on his contract IIRC).

Had he actually gone into the draft if he was delisted, I have no doubt that he would have been taken by another AFL club.

20 goals from 16 games while playing a lot of that in defence? It's highly unlikely he would have made it to the rookie draft.

[dees189227 12,429]

Melbourne Footy ‏@MelbourneFooty 3m

Having agreed to terms with the club, Mitch Clark has officially been removed from Melbourne's playing list.

So he is officially gone. Its a sad way to end but its more important Mitch gets on top of things. Im sure he will feel relieved of the pressure of getting his foot right and performing. But its good to see him at training.

[Sideshow Bob 2,436]

Gee wiz, officially gone now. I'm hoping that our legal department put in a clause about not nominating for the draft at seasons end or next season as we'll for that matter, not sure why but I've still got a yucky feeling that he'll bob up elsewhere. Must be case of severe MFCSS.

[KingDingAling 3,758]

Gee wiz, officially gone now. I'm hoping that our legal department put in a clause about not nominating for the draft at seasons end or next season as we'll for that matter, not sure why but I've still got a yucky feeling that he'll bob up elsewhere. Must be case of severe MFCSS.

I think Mitch will play for us again.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Turned up around 11 (no sign of Clark). Stayed til 5 past 12.

Pretty full compliment out there as far as I could tell. No Spencer, King, Harmes, Trengove or Hogan but the rest did most of everything.

Garland moving well and involved in everything. No sign of a knee complaint. Tappy left early but after some good work. Jamar sat out some match simulation but then rejoined.

Drills

Started with a few stations of different drills mainly working on short kicking.

Then in to their customary full ground ball movement drill in groups of 5 or 6 moving the ball from backline to forward and in for a goal

Then in to a 16 on 16 drill with the starters in blue, back ups in vest working on moving the ball from a half back stoppage. After that the same kind of drill but either from a kick out or from a man at half back

Then in to positional groups. Midfield working on stoppages. Forwards on kicking to leading targets. Backs on ball movement out of the back half

Notes

Watts training as a forward, RIP the midfield experiment?

Bail and Salem in with the midfielders

Strauss with the forwards. Blease with the backs, Possibly a desperation move to save their careers?

Howe training with the backs

Clisby spend some of the drills with the 1's group, but then back in a bib

Garland was in a bib the entire time, maybe Casey for him again

Kent looked good but was also mainly in the seconds line up

The early drills were pretty fluent. But the second match simulation drill was a dogs breakfast. JKH playing for the 2nds team (not many forwards in the 1's team wouldn't read much in to it) kicked a couple of goals from turnovers. Howe getting too creative through the middle and missing a leading Watts. Terlich kicking long from a kick out to McDonald but not too his advantage. Roos stopped the drill to ask Terlich who he was kicking too and why it wasn't the ruckman.

Watts actually had some moments as a leading forward where he got on his bike and found space. Who knows if him forward again will help. I have my doubts.

Roos stopped the drill for a good 5 minutes to work out why on Earth from a starting position of N. Jones from the half back flank he couldn't get 18 on 18 (a couple had headed to the bench to even up the numbers) and why the players weren't in the right spots. Eventually he got the forwards down the line in the right spot and 60-100 from the ball. The midfielders bunched inwards about 40m from the ball, the defenders fanned out for the switch and the forwards guarding them in the right configuration. I heard him scream "No your role, play your role". It was dispiriting that 36 of them couldn't work out the right spots and be there. From the right spots the play actually moved forward pretty well. Roos brought them in for a big chat after that, clearly not impressed. But he was coaching and directing them.

One piece of play right in front of me frustrated me. The ball was kicked to Frawley out at half forward who drops back to mark with space from his opponent. But Pedersen leading up tries to call Frawley out. Frawley rightly stands his ground and marks with a quick 'call me back' to Pedo. Then Chip gave him the death stare after the play was over. Just a simple error from Pedo not to call Frawley in and protect him, but a fundamental none the less.

This is what elite posting looks like.

Thank you master - a great read.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

He wasn't picked up, he was traded for (with another year to go on his contract IIRC).

Had he actually gone into the draft if he was delisted, I have no doubt that he would have been taken by another AFL club.

20 goals from 16 games while playing a lot of that in defence? It's highly unlikely he would have made it to the rookie draft.

I used 'picked up' as the same regarding trades or drafts (semantics)

We've got more from him than Gysberts would have given.

But you missed my point still...