GOODBYE MITCH CLARK

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I'm pretty sure the laws were changed after this debacle to ensure it can't happen again?

Correct.

[chookrat 4,268]

I don't think we need to worry about MC being poached by Freo or any other club for the following reasons:

1. MC is still on our list

2. His situation has been treated sensitively by the AFL community to the extent that the media has not speculated on MC's future at all. Other clubs may make enquiries but would not seek to take advantage of such a special circumstance.

3. It is in the AFL's interest for us to improve and it would make no sense for the AFL to force us to use a pick on a playerwho is already on our list.

4. We have already traded a pick to bring him onto our list in the first place

5. GNF says so

If Mitch wants to play for the MFC he will be able to do so and it won't cost us a pick or require us to redraft him.

[beelzebub 23,390]

I don't think we need to worry about MC being poached by Freo or any other club for the following reasons:

1. MC is still on our list

2. His situation has been treated sensitively by the AFL community to the extent that the media has not speculated on MC's future at all. Other clubs may make enquiries but would not seek to take advantage of such a special circumstance.

3. It is in the AFL's interest for us to improve and it would make no sense for the AFL to force us to use a pick on a playerwho is already on our list.

4. We have already traded a pick to bring him onto our list in the first place

5. GNF says so

If Mitch wants to play for the MFC he will be able to do so and it won't cost us a pick or require us to redraft him.

Looks a reasonable summation.

logic though is a rare visitor to the AFL

[brey9186 102]

Way I see the Mitch Clark situation is the club and mitch came to an agreement to announce a "retirement" which effectively has taken any public pressure off him, at least until now

"Extended leave" leaves the open a lot more open, and media/fans wouldve been questioning his recovery every 2nd week

This time gave him the chance to recover from injuries, and mental recharge and give himself every chance of playing again, and if not then he gave it a crack!!

Mitch's interest in football on twitter has shown how well he has been recoving mentally too i think, earlier in the year footy and MFC were never mentioned, now he comments about all the games!!

[Parma 28]

Way I see the Mitch Clark situation is the club and mitch came to an agreement to announce a "retirement" which effectively has taken any public pressure off him, at least until now

"Extended leave" leaves the open a lot more open, and media/fans wouldve been questioning his recovery every 2nd week

This time gave him the chance to recover from injuries, and mental recharge and give himself every chance of playing again, and if not then he gave it a crack!!

Mitch's interest in football on twitter has shown how well he has been recoving mentally too i think, earlier in the year footy and MFC were never mentioned, now he comments about all the games!!

This is what I was about to post.....couldn't have said it better and I believe it to be true and that is why his manager has come out and said that he will talk to MC in the next two weeks. This will be to give melb time to weigh up options.

[FC Melbourne 108]

Think this could fit in with PJ's call for special assistance, not a priority pick.

Might be smoothing the waters to allow Mitch back onto the list without to much fanfare / pressure.

[Vince Vega 40]

I'm pretty sure the laws were changed after this debacle to ensure it can't happen again?

Correct.

I've heard this as well but never heard any other details. Does anyone know the actual rule or where I can find it?

[Moonshadow 17,678]

I've heard this as well but never heard any other details. Does anyone know the actual rule or where I can find it?

Don't know that it is an actual rule, but I think you'll find that most player contracts have a 'retirement' clause in them now to stop a repeat of the Mal Michael scam.

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

Think this could fit in with PJ's call for special assistance, not a priority pick.

Might be smoothing the waters to allow Mitch back onto the list without to much fanfare / pressure.

Allowing us to add our own player back to our own list. Don't think there's any assistance there!

[JV7 2,375]

IF Mitch came back surely it would be at the MFC.. I would think the backlash/spotlight he may cop if he chose to play at fremantle or at another club wouldn't be good for someone who's recovering/recovered from a mental problem. Surely the best thing for him would be to rejoin melbourne and everyone getting around him in a positive way. If he played somewhere else I'd feel the backlash couldn't be good for him

[Vince Vega 40]

Don't know that it is an actual rule, but I think you'll find that most player contracts have a 'retirement' clause in them now to stop a repeat of the Mal Michael scam.

That makes more sense. Cheers!

[sydneydee 697]

It would be great to see Mitch back playing AFL however I would be shattered given the status of our list to see him play for any other team.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,435]

Yep.

Leading goalkicker was C.Dawes with 17 FFS

Had we had Clark he might have kicked 60 and we probably would have won 6 more matches

Sneaky 30 or 40 from Hogan wouldn't have hurt either

Your confusing his worth to us compared to other clubs - no one is saying we wouldn't sign him up if he were available but if he went somewhere else say Freo and they had to trade with us for him we wouldn't be getting a top 20 pick for a speculative gamble by Freo.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,435]

Mal Michael retired from Brisbane at the end of the 2006 season, only to change his mind a month later and be picked up by Essendon in the Pre-Season draft.

I don't believe Brisbane received anything and Essendon got another couple of years out of Michael.

The AFL changed the rules after that I think to prevent it happening again.

[71 Molloy 266]

Allowing us to add our own player back to our own list. Don't think there's any assistance there!

Might let us Rookie him without having to nominate for the rookie draft to allow us to have an extra pick in the ND.

[pitchfork 181]

Thanks 'land...because of this thread I've managed to convince myself Mitch is playing for us next year. Now I'm likely to be shattered.

[pilgrim 122]

Surely the AFL are going to suss out If Mitch was to return before deciding whether to give us "special consideration". As PJ mentioned on The Sunday Footy Show, that was one of the club's reasons for applying. If the AFL did give it to us only to have Clark make a comeback, they'd look like fools. I feel that if we are granted special assistance, it'll come with the bearing that Clark is gone.

[rjay 25,301]

Surely the AFL are going to suss out If Mitch was to return before deciding whether to give us "special consideration". As PJ mentioned on The Sunday Footy Show, that was one of the club's reasons for applying. If the AFL did give it to us only to have Clark make a comeback, they'd look like fools. I feel that if we are granted special assistance, it'll come with the bearing that Clark is gone.

The clash jumper situation has proved beyond any doubt that they are fools. Let the foolery continue...

[autocol 448]

Your confusing his worth to us compared to other clubs - no one is saying we wouldn't sign him up if he were available but if he went somewhere else say Freo and they had to trade with us for him we wouldn't be getting a top 20 pick for a speculative gamble by Freo.

Add Mitch Clarke to Freo's forward line and they are a much more serious flag threat. Adding a 200cm power forward to a team with an open premiership window is an opportunity not to be sneezed at. Particularly when your head coach is a known "go for the flag and leave the club in a shambles if you miss" kinda guy...

[rjay 25,301]

Add Mitch Clarke to Freo's forward line and they are a much more serious flag threat. Adding a 200cm power forward to a team with an open premiership window is an opportunity not to be sneezed at. Particularly when your head coach is a known "go for the flag and leave the club in a shambles if you miss" kinda guy...

I think that's spot on, how much is a premiership worth to them?

[leucopogon 1,519]

IF Mitch came back surely it would be at the MFC.. I would think the backlash/spotlight he may cop if he chose to play at fremantle or at another club wouldn't be good for someone who's recovering/recovered from a mental problem. Surely the best thing for him would be to rejoin melbourne and everyone getting around him in a positive way. If he played somewhere else I'd feel the backlash couldn't be good for him

But from where would the backlash come? I wouldn't expect there to be much except from the minority of the most bitter Demons fans (I think many here, myself included, would wish Mitch all the best whatever he decides to do in the future). Not that I wouldn't be a little bit further heartbroken by such a scenario. The wider footballing world surely wouldn't give a fig.

[Wormburner 674]

I don't know what it is, but I have this gut feeling that we'll have both Clark and Jurrah on our list next year....

Geez I hope I'm right, it'd be the stuff dreams are made of.

[Grapeviney 9,909]

I don't know what it is, but I have this gut feeling that we'll have both Clark and Jurrah on our list next year....

I don't know what it is either, but I'm guessing it's not legal

[chookrat 4,268]

The clash jumper situation has proved beyond any doubt that they are fools. Let the foolery continue...

The clash jumper fiasco is terrible. The team that earns a home final should have the right to wear its home jumper on its home ground

[Wormburner 674]

I don't know what it is either, but I'm guessing it's not legal

Lol, unfortunately I can't blame that.

The reason why I mention Jurrah, is Roos was quizzed about him on 360 around a month ago - he looked awkward and sheepish.

Anyways, we can only dream.