On 29/09/2014 at 02:07, Harry Plopper said:

Clark can't be a delisted free agent because of the terms in the settlement agreement.

"The AFL Players Association view is that Clark cannot be considered for free agency, because the terms of his settlement with Melbourne were equivalent to a player retiring and the rules prohibit players exploiting retirement as a back-door way of claiming free agency. So, Clark's options are either to play at Melbourne or find another club via a trade or the draft."

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/magpies-make-a-pitch-for-mitch-clark-20140909-10eobl.html#ixzz3EfNWQSwr

Thanks for clearing up.

  On 29/09/2014 at 01:57, daisycutter said:

i've been thinking about what clark means when he says he wants to get a good deal for mfc

is it meaningful or just self-promoting spin?

just how can he make sure mfc gets a good deal when it is completely up to the recipient club who can play hardball and we have little bargaining power?

is clark going to knock back a good offer because that club doesn't offer up a good deal? yeah pigs might fly.

all he can do is say he will go through the trade option (rather than delist option) which doesn't mean we get a reasonable offer

it actually suits him to go the trade route because then he can choose a club

if he ends up in the draft as delisted he loses control somewhat

i think his sentiment of looking after mfc is just spin to gain some sympathy

if we can't get a reasonable trade we should let him walk

i'd rather we took a stand than accept some low pick or lowly player

mal michael all over again

exactly...

What exactly will Mitch do if the other club plays hardball ? Stay with us ? Not gonna happen. "I will make sure the club gets fairly compensated" rates up there with a board saying " the coach has our our full and unequivocal support" and a player saying " I don't want to think about my contract until the end of the year - I just want to concentrate on my footy".

  On 29/09/2014 at 01:58, jnrmac said:

His name would fit in quite well at Melbourne

"Well done number 33!!"

Yea has a real nice ring to it.

  On 29/09/2014 at 02:15, boydie said:

Send him to draft then pick him up again?

I'd love it if we did that.

We wouldn't though.

  On 29/09/2014 at 03:17, Clint Bizkit said:

Thanks for clearing up.

In practice though he is behaving as a free agent.

Choosing his club and demanding that a deal be reached with the MFC. This will get messy.

  On 29/09/2014 at 04:03, jabberwocky said:

In practice though he is behaving as a free agent.

Choosing his club and demanding that a deal be reached with the MFC. This will get messy.

He is, but Melbourne could in theory (unlikely as it is) threaten to pick him up in the draft if a deal cannot be struck.

  On 28/09/2014 at 08:06, AdamFarr said:

Posters on Demonland and across most of society, all too readily accept what is written in the press as fact. Most of it is speculation. MC and the MFC have not come out in the press and stated anything. It's been played back and forth in the media, just because MC or the MFC haven't come out and debunked any of the rumour or innuendo, does not therefore make it fact.

Finally someone making sense on here (as always AF).

I will be waiting for an official club release regarding his status before I jump to conclusions.

  On 28/09/2014 at 08:06, AdamFarr said:

Posters on Demonland and across most of society, all too readily accept what is written in the press as fact. Most of it is speculation. MC and the MFC have not come out in the press and stated anything. It's been played back and forth in the media, just because MC or the MFC haven't come out and debunked any of the rumour or innuendo, does not therefore make it fact.

While I don't disagree with most of what you say I find it strange the MFC would put this article on their official website if there was no truth to the rumours.

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-09-29/trade-winds-clark-narrows-down-choice-to-cats-pies

I think it is pretty clear that he is going elsewhere, which is fine.
He has removed the number 11 from his social media accounts - which may not seem like much to some but it certainly is.

It's a shame everything happened the way it did, but I wish him all the best.

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:00, Deez said:

I think it is pretty clear that he is going elsewhere, which is fine.

He has removed the number 11 from his social media accounts - which may not seem like much to some but it certainly is.

It's a shame everything happened the way it did, but I wish him all the best.

Why?

I certainly don't....

I think what stings the worst was remembering the way he played for us. There was such passion in the way he went about everything. He was aggressive and put his body on the line. He was magical to watch.

I think the feelings of betrayal are worsened because he embodied everything we wanted from a player, even for so few games.

He cried when interviewed about Jimmy. Seemed to me to be as Melbourne as anyone could possibly be.

I'm really disappointed it didn't work out.

  On 29/09/2014 at 04:52, Ethan Tremblay said:

While I don't disagree with most of what you say I find it strange the MFC would put this article on their official website if there was no truth to the rumours.

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-09-29/trade-winds-clark-narrows-down-choice-to-cats-pies

I suspect that any MFC related article on the AFL site automatically goes onto ours perhaps without consulting us.

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:10, Tyson_Viney_Toumpas said:

Why?

I certainly don't....

Because if his depression is legitimate, I get that the clubs environment could be a potential trigger. If that is the case then its a shame but it is what it is and he needs to move on.

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:21, sue said:

I suspect that any MFC related article on the AFL site automatically goes onto ours perhaps without consulting us.

Maybe, but the AFL stories on the Essendon drug scandal didn't go to the Essendon website.

Maybe the individual club site admins just select which ones to mirror.

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:23, Deez said:

Because if his depression is legitimate, I get that the clubs environment could be a potential trigger. If that is the case then its a shame but it is what it is and he needs to move on.

I don't believe a word of it about his depression anymore, I think its a cop out.

He has burnt bridges at 3 clubs now through lies & deception and that's why the footy world is very suspicious of him.

Unflattering references from his old Coach & Captain tell the story. However you are entitled to your opinion Deez.

I smell a rat, Mitch Clark is that rat.

As for Mitch Clark, much has been said on here, following his 'retirement', of the need to be sensitive and empathetic to mental illness and that surely goes without saying. However, those with any knowledge of the concern, benevolence and assistance given to Mitch would know that much effort was put into Mitch, by the MFC, to help him through his "retirement" and beyond. Previously, assistance was also provided to his partner, by the MFC, so that she could continue her medical studies in Melbourne. Reports today indicate that the Geelong Footy Club provided a guided tour of Deakin's Geelong campus, so that she may be able to continue her studies there.

Of course, it should be welcomed that Mitch feels well enough to resume his AFL career, but if loyalty counts for anything these days, one hopes that Mitch may give more than a passing thought to the payment given to him by the MFC and the subsequent assistance he received during his convalescence. So do I mean that because the MFC gave him so much, he owes the footy club something. No, I don't. But maybe, just maybe, he might give a passing thought to those battle weary Demons supporters who invested so much hope in him and many of the same supporters wished him well in his recovery.

Sadly, I guess that for us supporters, we just have to suck it up and realise that's just the way of professional footy these days.

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:28, Choke said:

Maybe, but the AFL stories on the Essendon drug scandal didn't go to the Essendon website.

Maybe the individual club site admins just select which ones to mirror.

That's probably because Essendon's website isn't run through the AFL - the only club where that is the case.

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:31, Tyson_Viney_Toumpas said:

I don't believe a word of it about his depression anymore, I think its a cop out.

He has burnt bridges at 3 clubs now through lies & deception and that's why the footy world is very suspicious of him.

Unflattering references from his old Coach & Captain tell the story. However you are entitled to your opinion Deez.

I smell a rat, Mitch Clark is that rat.

Fair enough, as i said my opinion is based on the scenario that his depression is legitimate.

If it isn't, then of course that changes everything.

Ive read a lot about it, but I'm really none the wiser - everything I've read is on forums.

So for now ill stick with that.

  On 29/09/2014 at 06:13, Thrice said:

That's probably because Essendon's website isn't run through the AFL - the only club where that is the case.

I think thats still true. I dont think its the only one. Most are ( AFL )

going out on a limb, but theres somewhat of a chance that he's shopping himself around to clubs that he wants to play at, keeping in mind the best deal for the mfc - i hope. Theres also a big chance that none of that is happening, but its better to be optimistic.

  On 29/09/2014 at 06:21, Deez said:

going out on a limb, but theres somewhat of a chance that he's shopping himself around to clubs that he wants to play at, keeping in mind the best deal for the mfc - i hope. Theres also a big chance that none of that is happening, but its better to be optimistic.

is that violins i hear in the distance?

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:28, Choke said:

Maybe, but the AFL stories on the Essendon drug scandal didn't go to the Essendon website.

Maybe the individual club site admins just select which ones to mirror.

Essendon run their own website

  On 29/09/2014 at 05:23, Deez said:

Because if his depression is legitimate, I get that the clubs environment could be a potential trigger. If that is the case then its a shame but it is what it is and he needs to move on.

If a change of environment is beneficial fair enough but work with the club to achieve a mutually beneficial result rather than shopping yourself around. I know from inside that the club is disgusted with his behaviour and that I can't forgive.

Combine this with his history of burning other a clubs a picture emerges of an attention seeking narcissist and I think it would be buyer beware and probably the reason we would only offer him a basic contract.

I am involved in treating people with depression and in principle you remove people from a toxic environment if necessary but Clark was given every support at The Dees and so for him you could make a case that it would be better to return and learn appropriate coping skills. In therapy you don't encourage people to keep running away because most change begins internally.

That so called toxic environment that Mitch needs to escape from includes the full support of the full melbourne playing list, coaches, support staff and 30+ thousand supporters. Which he is swapping to go to a new club where he has few if any existing relationships with anyone, is now under far more scrutiny than he was under at Melbourne, but is probably comforted by the extra $$'s he is being paid. Friends stick by friends, the club stuck by mitch, but mitch does not appear to be sticking by the club. Any ability to get compensation for the club is based on what the opposition club will give, i doubt mitch's decision will be decided on what compensation each club may give to melbourne but rather on what mitch gets.

  On 29/09/2014 at 07:43, Deecisive said:

That so called toxic environment that Mitch needs to escape from includes the full support of the full melbourne playing list, coaches, support staff and 30+ thousand supporters. Which he is swapping to go to a new club where he has few if any existing relationships with anyone, is now under far more scrutiny than he was under at Melbourne, but is probably comforted by the extra $$'s he is being paid. Friends stick by friends, the club stuck by mitch, but mitch does not appear to be sticking by the club. Any ability to get compensation for the club is based on what the opposition club will give, i doubt mitch's decision will be decided on what compensation each club may give to melbourne but rather on what mitch gets.

agreed

what said it for me was when he removed '11' off his tag and other mfc stuff