This year there have been no leaks or whispers coming from our club, at least none of weight or importance. And even on this issue there is a deafening silence. This again reassures me that PJ and Roos know all the ins and outs of this and are fully knowledgeable about this issuel. On top of this, the total lack of official comment signals to me that there is no desperate or frantic effort to keep Mitch.

I suspect MFC believe Mitch is cooked. If I remember correctly he had 2, not 1, lower leg/foot injuries. The Lisfranc thing is a shocker that has finished the career of other footballers. Also, the only 2 players I can remember being public about their clinical depression while playing - Johnathon Hay and Nathan Thompson - never recovered their spark.

I would love to see him in the red and blue again, but I have no confidence he will get back to his brilliant best, whoever he plays for.

As others have alluded to it may be that the club has considered all of the risk factors in Mitch's comeback and have made a pragmatic list management decision.

Well, now that Mitch looks like he's going to attempt a return to AFL then good luck to him and perhaps it's time to move this thread over to the drafting and trading board.

He's done.

Trade him for picks and move on.

What is Mitch worth in a trade to us?

I wonder if the Doggies would cough up something good for the forward they desperately need?

2015, not 2014.

Which surely means he will only go via a trade.

I trust those in charge to get the absolute best deal for the club, but I'm not sure Lumumba is equitable. Clark is worth two of him. He can change a game off his own boot.

This would be a huge middle digit to the club that has done everything in its power, financially and otherwise, to support him.

Edited September 7, 201411 yr by P-man

I was told that he was married yesterday????? and that Jack Grimes who is one of his best mates told me he was attending. Grimes also told me he would love to play with him again but didn't think he would.

Clark & Watts for either Beams or Sidebottom & Lumumba plus Pick 8 (for taking Lumumba off their hands)...... Otherwise tell the pies to F off!!!!

Big kick in the guts to Melb supporters if Clark does this as far as I'm concerned, to my mind it will cast real doubts about the sincerity of his paid 'retirement' and I'm sure that perception is one I would be sharing with plenty of others.

I don't think our recruiting people are completely stupid these days. Be surprised if Mitch's future wasn't carefully worked through.

2015, not 2014.

Ah yes, my mistake.

Perhaps gives us slightly more leverage, but still, plenty of questions over Mitch's capability to come back to the highest level. I doubt we'd get anything above round 2 or equivalent for him.

Clark is worth two of him. He can change a game off his own boot.

He could change a game off his own boot.

He's contracted till Oct 31. If he's go to a club of his choice, that would have to be via a trade, which would have to be during the trade period, which is prior to the expiration of his contract.

On the other hand, if that fell through, I would presume he could go to a club of his choice in the delisted FA period, where we'd get nothing.

The latter would appear to reduce our negotiating power - this would be on the assumption that both sides (Melb and Mitch) think it's best to "move on". As such, and given his recent history and the uncertainties surrounding it - including whether or not his body can stand up to the rigours of AFL footy - I don't know that we'd be able to get much more than a second round pick for him.

The trade with Collingwood for HL - a player who's still averaging 20 disposals a match, is only a year older than Mitch and has no injury issues - may not be as inequitable as it sounds.

his original contract ended in 2015

i understand the afl tightened up the rules after the mal michael retirement fiasco

if he wants to go it will have to be by trade

I would like the club to come out and clarify where it stands with Mitch. We shareholders deserve to be kept in the loop on a matter such as this one. Mitch is a listed MFC player, not a speculative rookie or potential recruit.

Edited September 7, 201411 yr by Tough Kent

Here you guys go if you haven't read this yet.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-07/dees-want-say-on-clark

Plus i think he is worth deffs a top 20 pick

clearly it wasn't our decision. It would of been his..

clearly it wasn't our decision. It would of been his..

What decision??? No decision has been made.

What decision??? No decision has been made.

Hence why i said 'would'

The AGE, HS, Fox Sport have all reported that Mitch is unlikely to play at MFC based on a speculative comment made by Barrett. And some Demonland posters have followed suit. Talk about follow the leader.

"This decision by Mitch to investigate the potential of returning to play AFL is something we would expect Mitch to discuss with us," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said in a statement.

"Our focus has been on Mitch's health and wellbeing. When the decision was made earlier in the year, it was on the advice that removing the pressure of being an AFL player was the best thing for Mitch's health."

Where did this come from?

"This decision by Mitch to investigate the potential of returning to play AFL is something we would expect Mitch to discuss with us," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said in a statement.

"Our focus has been on Mitch's health and wellbeing. When the decision was made earlier in the year, it was on the advice that removing the pressure of being an AFL player was the best thing for Mitch's health."

Here's a tip, when you quote provide a date and a link if possible, otherwise it is meaningless.

Where did this come from?

I provided the link

Good to see the club on the front foot. Still no quote about Mitch not wanting to return to MFC.

You've got to laugh. This could only happen to the Dees.

"This decision by Mitch to investigate the potential of returning to play AFL is something we would expect Mitch to discuss with us," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said in a statement.

"Our focus has been on Mitch's health and wellbeing. When the decision was made earlier in the year, it was on the advice that removing the pressure of being an AFL player was the best thing for Mitch's health."

Demons want say in Mitch Clark's future as key forward eyes comeback in 2015

In other words, it all depends on what was negotiated with Clark. Hopefully we didn't stuff this one up either.

You've got to laugh. This could only happen to the Dees.

It would be bloody heartbreaking if we got bent over by a bloke we bent over backwards for.