GOODBYE MITCH CLARK

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,059]

incorrect - terrible doesn't begin to describe the song "if". Bread is more depressing than 186 and that is saying something.

I completely understand and agree. But your second sentence might be like a second language to some. We probably need to explain for anyone under 50...'Bread' is the name of the band who sang "If...". Presumably readers on Demonland don't need an explanation of '186', though.

[Key Deefender 143]

Bread is more depressing than 186 and that is saying something.

Yes but a Roll is also more fun than Bread - especially "IF" in the hay ....

[rpfc 28,950]

Bread is more depressing than 186 and that is saying something.

Yes but a Roll is also more fun than Bread - especially "IF" in the hay ....

Wrap it up...

[Sir Why You Little 37,330]

Ha. I heard some "Bread" songs last night.

The filipino's play it quite often. After 2 litres of Red Horse i didn't complain!!

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

If...

Terrible song

Good one. Haven't thought about the movie or the song for years, but right on both counts.

Fantastic poem.

[nutbean 8,838]

Ha. I heard some "Bread" songs last night.

The filipino's play it quite often. After 2 litres of Red Horse i didn't complain!!

After that confession you are now on ignore ( well almost...)

[Demon 16 214]

IF he gets fit enough, IF he recovers fully from his injury, IF he is mentally right, and IF he wants to return to AFL, does he not need to go through the draft?

IF the answer is yes, then how can anyone say where he will end up?

As the AFL seem reluctant to consider us for a priority pick, could they in their infinite wisdom just for once make up a "ruling" on the run and give him some sort of special dispensation to nominate MFC ?

Who knows. I don't.

Hi monoccular.

The answer is this;

Melbourne has severed its contract with Mitch Clark. We have no ability to re-sign him on an open market.

The circumstances around his 'retirement' means he is not a delisted free agent, and he could not nominate his club of choice. This rule was brought about because of the way Mal Michael 'retired' from Brisbane, then signed with Essendon the following season which was around 6 or 7 years ago I think.

However..

Mitch Clark can nominate for the pre-season draft (not the National Draft). Given his issues with mental illness, if he states his strong preference is to return to the MFC, it would be suicide by media for any other club to nominate him. In any case, the only clubs that may have a pick ahead of the Demons, are GWS, Brisbane and St Kilda.

GWS probably wouldn't want to stifle the development of their overflowing list of young forwards, and Mumford is one of the best rucks in the comp.

No way will Brisbane taking any 'go home' risks over the next few years, and considering Clark has already left them once.. I need not go on.

St Kilda have Billy Longer rucking, and will probably have one of Wright or McCartin in their forward line with Reiwoldt. A weaker argument perhaps, but I revert to the risk, and media [censored] that would occur if the Saints pulled him away from where his preference lay.

So, make no mistake - the MFC are staying very close to Mitch during his recovery, and the media are being very respectful during this period. I would currently give it a 50% chance that he will be back on Melbournes list in 2015, and if not, a 75% chance that he'll be back in the red and blue in 2016.

Cheers,

D16

[Deez 298]

Hi monoccular.

The answer is this;

Melbourne has severed its contract with Mitch Clark. We have no ability to re-sign him on an open market.

The circumstances around his 'retirement' means he is not a delisted free agent, and he could not nominate his club of choice. This rule was brought about because of the way Mal Michael 'retired' from Brisbane, then signed with Essendon the following season which was around 6 or 7 years ago I think.

However..

Mitch Clark can nominate for the pre-season draft (not the National Draft). Given his issues with mental illness, if he states his strong preference is to return to the MFC, it would be suicide by media for any other club to nominate him. In any case, the only clubs that may have a pick ahead of the Demons, are GWS, Brisbane and St Kilda.

GWS probably wouldn't want to stifle the development of their overflowing list of young forwards, and Mumford is one of the best rucks in the comp.

No way will Brisbane taking any 'go home' risks over the next few years, and considering Clark has already left them once.. I need not go on.

St Kilda have Billy Longer rucking, and will probably have one of Wright or McCartin in their forward line with Reiwoldt. A weaker argument perhaps, but I revert to the risk, and media [censored] that would occur if the Saints pulled him away from where his preference lay.

So, make no mistake - the MFC are staying very close to Mitch during his recovery, and the media are being very respectful during this period. I would currently give it a 50% chance that he will be back on Melbournes list in 2015, and if not, a 75% chance that he'll be back in the red and blue in 2016.

Cheers,

D16

good analysis.

Hope its in the ball park

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

This thread is full of the classical Demonland mix of paranoia, hand wringing and misguided hope.

and definitive, certain statements from people who have no insight or authority to make such statements

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

So, make no mistake - the MFC are staying very close to Mitch during his recovery, and the media are being very respectful during this period. I would currently give it a 50% chance that he will be back on Melbournes list in 2015, and if not, a 75% chance that he'll be back in the red and blue in 2016.

that is my feeling also

[CBDees 3,167]

Demon 16 I hope that the odds (i.e. 50% & 75%) that you have mentioned prove correct. I would love to see Mitch back lining up in our forward line. At his age, the remuneration is a compelling argument to return as it would establish financially establish him and he won't have the option later.

[monoccular 17,679]

^^^

Thanks XVI

i think there has been a lot of confused thinking re Mitch's current status - this should clarify where he stands with us and the competition in general.

It would be fantastic, IF all the ifs are ticked, and he wished to return to MFC, were we to get him "cheaply" in the PSD.

I won't hold my breath but will watch with interest.

[CBDees 3,167]

^^^

Thanks XVI

i think there has been a lot of confused thinking re Mitch's current status - this should clarify where he stands with us and the competition in general.

It would be fantastic, IF all the ifs are ticked, and he wished to return to MFC, were we to get him "cheaply" in the PSD.

I won't hold my breath but will watch with interest.

It might seem cheap but this fiasco has surely cost us and we would still have him on good money should he return. He won't be cheap as such $wise however at least we can circumvent the open market if that is what he wants.

[Demon 16 214]

You're welcome.

I just want to be clear there - those percentages are my personal opinion based on my understanding of where everything is at right now.

I don't want to provide false hope - but the club is definitely doing all the right things by Mitch, and mental illness is something that you can certainly recover from.

[Sir Why You Little 37,330]

After that confession you are now on ignore ( well almost...)

Hahaha!!

David Gates wrote some great lyrics.

Personally i would beef up the music...

Red Horse is a 6.9% Beer btw...

[What 18,810]

Melbourne have supported him and he loves the club

if he decides to play again it will only be for the MFC

Even if he goes into the preseason draft or become a delisted FA, no other club will draft or sign him out of goodwill and also the risk involved for them would be too high

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

I confirm everything that I have earlier said in this thread several months back. The prospect of 11 remains in play. PJ, PR and the club will say nothing and even go as far as playing games to keep people off the trail as the chance of success is stronger if the pressure on him remains low. I was recently told the move back to Perth was partly to ensure that he did not attract this attention and thus pressure. It was also to give him time away from everything to continue his recovery and to give him time to assess what he wanted.

Clark has not given up the dream of playing senior football for Melbourne again. He has been training on a Misson derived program in Perth. He must first prove a minimum level of mental and physical fitness, he must then prove the desire to return is strong enough. His pending return to Melbourne is a very good sign and he will now start to slowly ramp up training, but don't get carried away, Clark still has a long way to go.

Like Frawley that club just don't know whether he will or will not be on the list next year.

If he plays again it will only be for the Dees.

[Cards13 9,117]

Good to see we are not heaping any more pressure on him....

[monoccular 17,679]

It might seem cheap but this fiasco has surely cost us and we would still have him on good money should he return. He won't be cheap as such $wise however at least we can circumvent the open market if that is what he wants.

by cheaply I was referring to cost in terms of draft picks.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I confirm everything that I have earlier said in this thread several months back. The prospect of 11 remains in play. PJ, PR and the club will say nothing and even go as far as playing games to keep people off the trail as the chance of success is stronger if the pressure on him remains low. I was recently told the move back to Perth was partly to ensure that he did not attract this attention and thus pressure. It was also to give him time away from everything to continue his recovery and to give him time to assess what he wanted.

Clark has not given up the dream of playing senior football for Melbourne again. He has been training on a Misson derived program in Perth. He must first prove a minimum level of mental and physical fitness, he must then prove the desire to return is strong enough. His pending return to Melbourne is a very good sign and he will now start to slowly ramp up training, but don't get carried away, Clark still has a long way to go.

Like Frawley that club just don't know whether he will or will not be on the list next year.

If he plays again it will only be for the Dees.

you're the only man I've ever loved

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,059]

I confirm everything that I have earlier said in this thread several months back. The prospect of 11 remains in play. PJ, PR and the club will say nothing and even go as far as playing games to keep people off the trail as the chance of success is stronger if the pressure on him remains low. I was recently told the move back to Perth was partly to ensure that he did not attract this attention and thus pressure. It was also to give him time away from everything to continue his recovery and to give him time to assess what he wanted.

Clark has not given up the dream of playing senior football for Melbourne again. He has been training on a Misson derived program in Perth. He must first prove a minimum level of mental and physical fitness, he must then prove the desire to return is strong enough. His pending return to Melbourne is a very good sign and he will now start to slowly ramp up training, but don't get carried away, Clark still has a long way to go.

Like Frawley that club just don't know whether he will or will not be on the list next year.

If he plays again it will only be for the Dees.

Normally I would not support clubs "playing games" with players, their contracts and list management decisions. But mental health issues require special care and a few white lies which might help an individual's recovery and well being are definitely worth "playing games" for.

[nutbean 8,838]

Good to see we are not heaping any more pressure on him....

I hope that is not sarcasm...

Depression is such a complicated issue. The pressure that playing AFL football caused Mitch is a contradiction to a game that Mitch obviously loves playing.

I would suggest that it would be part of his treatment to not avoid the contradiction but try and resume playing the game. That does not necessarily mean at AFL level as he may not be mentally capable of handling it. But part of his therapy may be to get him back to playing football at a level that he can derive enjoyment out of it and doesn't feel pressured or trigger the depressive symptoms.

We hear of a lot of retired footballers who feel a great gaping hole after they retire and some go on to play local/country footballer and ween themselves off football over a number of years.

I would further suggest that any programs or discussions the club may have with Mitch would be done in consultation and co-operation with his treating doctor to ensure it is a positive and not detrimental to his health.

[Machsy 2,858]

Maybe sarcasm, in that we are actually putting pressure on his return?

I dunno, that's how I read it.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Good to see we are not heaping any more pressure on him....

are you suggesting that we come this football discussion website and not discuss football

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

Discuss football !!??