Some of my sock have holes in the toes but mostly the heals give way first.

It's a darn nuisance.

You should start a THREAD on that.

Roos is Mr Ruthless Premiership Winning Coach.

He doesn't see in Clark what we all see - he looks at what he has done in the last couple years, the project that he has become and maybe he then looks at our midfield and thinks to himself that there is a better place to invest money than in, what the British would call, a "perennially crocked" forward.

Hogan is the man in that forward line and Clark is only at the stage that he wants to play AFL again - so much water to flow under that bridge.

If we were gearing up to ask the AFL Commission for a PP - partially on the back of Clark going - we are certainly not going to say its all hunky dory now that he is a chance to play again. IF he can get his body right, and IF he can recapture his form, and IF he can stay healthy...

If Clark gets back to footy and we can gain a selection to help our midfield - then would we be better off than if we were taking the chance with Clark next year on $800k?

Nothing is black and white and that's why we shouldn't eat Mitch Clark alive - he hasn't seemed like anything other than a great bloke and Demon.

In the spirit of transparency and not wishing to mislead fellow posters, I feel obliged to let everyone here know that I'm not actually Ron Burgundy.

It's merely the avatar I use on this forum.

He is my hero though.

Your apartment does not smell of rich mahogany?

Edited September 8, 201411 yr by s-t-i-n-g-a

As I see it, Clark has retired on the genuine belief that he needed to spend time away from the game, and in the process his manager has orchestrated a situation in which, should he return in 2014, he wouldn't be tied to Melbourne. The club has respected Clark's situation and agreed, having no choice (if we'd tried to force him to remain contracted to us imagine how that would have looked).

So, as it eventuated, Clark has improved, and now wants to consider returning. He's probably received advice along the way, whether from a doctor, his manager, or someone else, along the lines of 'you need a clean start' or 'you don't want to go back to Melbourne, that's where it all started'. Due to his manager's foresight, he's now able to pick where he thinks he's most suited, and that doesn't have to be Melbourne. So he's started looking into other options. In doing so, in some manner he's upset the club, which appears to have assisted him in his recovery and at the least would have expected he commenced his process with them before exploring other options. It may well now be the case that he's burned bridges with us and we're now of the view that we'd rather trade him.

If so, so be it, but I'll still be disappointed if he leaves us, the more so if he returns to his decent/best form, and the more more so if he does it for Hawthorn or another powerhouse.

Titan if what you describe was the case then i would have no trouble with him leaving, but I find the failure of Mitch and his manager to engage with melbourne early to discuss this extremely disappointing, the timing of his retirement and his quick recovery being all to convenient financially for mitch and his manager. He could have stayed on our long term injury list and then possibly asked for a trade at the end of the year, but negotiated an early payout of his next years salary, costing melbourne one of the more financially challenged clubs further $'s that would would not have had to pay out had he left at the end of the year. I find very little in what mitch and his manager has done shows any respect or care for the MFC, it has been about mitch and his wallet and still appears to be.

For those questioning his mental illness, what makes you think he has recovered? He may not be as bad as he was earlier in the year but its more likely it is being managed than cured. Depression is something that can come and go, episodes can last days, weeks or months but it doesn't mean he is all of a sudden "better". Whatever we think of his loyalty or character footy wise its pretty poor form to question his sincerity regarding his illness. These things already have a stigma because its not something that can be easily perceived by another person its pretty poor to question someone in that situation.

I doubt the genuine-ness of his depression.

I don't, but unfortunately Mitch has put himself in a position where it's a question that's going to be asked.

Ok so Roos is ok without Clark and Chip.... We need a forward set up - perhaps deals already done regarding an up and coming young key forward to accompany Hogan - bringing this back to the forgotten man in JC (Jeremy Cameron not Jesus Christ - although it could be the second coming if we landed him!) who there the rumours about a little whole back. Just reading between the crumbs of information, Roos has also previously said we're not takings forward out of the TAC system for various reasons - I'm wondering if it means we already have one stitched up??

Yes

the AFL's first round pick isn't very likely...lol.. We will get stood on... again...

Ok so Roos is ok without Clark and Chip.... We need a forward set up - perhaps deals already done regarding an up and coming young key forward to accompany Hogan - bringing this back to the forgotten man in JC (Jeremy Cameron not Jesus Christ - although it could be the second coming if we landed him!) who there the rumours about a little whole back. Just reading between the crumbs of information, Roos has also previously said we're not takings forward out of the TAC system for various reasons - I'm wondering if it means we already have one stitched up??

It would seem that until a couple of weeks ago we thought we had Mitch stitched up...

Titan if what you describe was the case then i would have no trouble with him leaving, but I find the failure of Mitch and his manager to engage with melbourne early to discuss this extremely disappointing, the timing of his retirement and his quick recovery being all to convenient financially for mitch and his manager. He could have stayed on our long term injury list and then possibly asked for a trade at the end of the year, but negotiated an early payout of his next years salary, costing melbourne one of the more financially challenged clubs further $'s that would would not have had to pay out had he left at the end of the year. I find very little in what mitch and his manager has done shows any respect or care for the MFC, it has been about mitch and his wallet and still appears to be.

do you have any evidence of that? any source?

i've heard many different versions running from we saved a lot of money through to what you are claiming

just asking as i would like to know

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-08/clark-return-not-definite

This explains everything

Edited September 8, 201411 yr by jabberwocky

What I'm learning.

There are very few players prior to Roos that are not only worth keeping but that you WOULD keep given the obvious mould that seems to grow in the change rooms. Very few seem impervious to it.

Trust no one, believe in nothing until it is beyond question.

We have a lot of work to do at this club ( re the list )

Nice to see some realist brutality entering the mix.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-08/clark-return-not-definite

This explains everything

does it?

you're a smarter man than me gunga din

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-08/clark-return-not-definite

This explains everything

Not really. Still can't get my head around the doing Melbourne a favour bit. Also resent our fitness staff being used. Should make his own arrangements at his own expense.

do you have any evidence of that? any source?

i've heard many different versions running from we saved a lot of money through to what you are claiming

just asking as i would like to know

No I must admit supposition based on circumstantial evidence, i.e. he was on a healthy annual salary which would have included all of this years salary, he had a year to run so would have most likely taken a healthy discount on next years salary to take it early and go. Which would give us a figure or just over $2m which was mentioned earlier as what the MFC had paid him for his 15 games. Happy for you to point out any errors in my thinking, or facts that you have to the contrary.

No I must admit supposition based on circumstantial evidence, i.e. he was on a healthy annual salary which would have included all of this years salary, he had a year to run so would have most likely taken a healthy discount on next years salary to take it early and go. Which would give us a figure or just over $2m which was mentioned earlier as what the MFC had paid him for his 15 games. Happy for you to point out any errors in my thinking, or facts that you have to the contrary.

no, i have no better info (or any for that matter) on his payout

i just thought you might have something more than supposition

no biggie

Seen at Westpac Centre. Whoa real sea change there, nothing says fresh start like a 20 second jog down the street..

Better lighting for landscape shots come late arvo...

does it?

you're a smarter man than me gunga din

Probably not. Anyways it explains to me why his return to our club was not a lay down misere and why the agent has made other clubs aware that he may be on the market.

He was never going to just walk back into the club, we were going to quite rightly make him jump through some hoops.

It is also reassuring that he wants to ensure that if he goes that the club is compensated.

Whilst managing his comeback our club is in the best position to judge whether any comeback is likely to be successful. I am guessing we have some solid doubt.

We haven't been blindsided, we have carefully considered our position so as to get the best outcome.

Edited September 8, 201411 yr by jabberwocky

FC suggested a third rounder at best for Clark and Lloyd started with a fourth.

If it's true that the club do not want Clark anymore and Roos/Jackson somehow pry loose a PP out of this;

FC suggested a third rounder at best for Clark and Lloyd started with a fourth.

Would agree - but don't underestimate how desperate clubs can get. If 6 clubs inquired after him bidding war or desperation could land a 2nd round pick.

FC suggested a third rounder at best for Clark and Lloyd started with a fourth.

Then we delist him and let him enjoy the drive down to Seaford each day from Prahran....Xanax right there.

Evening champ. How about them Dees hey?

Evening old matey. How ABOUT those dees...

RE the manager starting MC did us a favour, I can only take that to mean the "confidential settlement" included not being paid the full amount of the 4th year (2015) of his contact.

RE Next year's plans, I wonder if the MFC flayed the idea of Rookieing him or similar to help him adjust to AFL again but he has different ideas.

I wouldn't be surprised if we are taking a cautious approach to taking him back and he may disagree. Similarly weer may not think he can core with AFL and think we can manage the situation to get over the odds compensation for him.

I'll reserve my judgement. I'd rather a fit and firing MC paying for the dees but if he is only 40% to get back on the park I'd rather pick 20 for Roos to trade.

If it's true that the club do not want Clark anymore and Roos/Jackson somehow pry loose a PP out of this;

The only conceivable way I can imagine Roos not wanting him is either:

a) he's tired of dealing with players that have baggage

b) already has a replacement stitched up, ala Cameron/Mitchell/Reid

Frankly neither seem likely at all. It seems we may have been quietly confident Clark's return to us was a fait accompli. Also doubt Cameron's in any rush to get here anymore (if he ever was) after our pathetic end to the season and the Giants quietly chugging along to 6 wins (convenient how they started winning once Petracca was out of the equation.)