My feeling is he was forced to leave by the AFL. Just a feeling. But there is more to this story.

But yes. He will play his best for them.

The [censored] thing is how it will get played out in the media that geelong brought the best out in him when we all knew how good he was.

There is so much more to this story.

Here's hoping that it all comes out eventually.

To think Geelong only lost Varcoe for him.

Laughable. Or sickening. Can't decide which.

He stooged Brisbane then Freo then us. He will do the same to Geelong.

And Collngwood (not that anyone cares). They were reportedly absolutely confident he would be joining them before yet another 11th hour backflip.

I'd like someone from our club to stand up and declare that we got dudded by the can't.

Will always remember that that he was prancing around Melbourne taking photos of his missus and trying to get a photography business off the ground all while supposedly being followed by the black dog.

Bulltish.

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by Fork 'em

There is so much more to this story.

Here's hoping that it all comes out eventually.

Tease ...

Not much we can do about it now.

Let's just hope that when we play Geelong he is out there and the boys give him heaps. That will do me.

I feel like we were told "It's not you, it's me", dumped, and then stung when he going out with a hotter chick.

Not much we can do about it now.

Let's just hope that when we play Geelong he is out there and the boys give him heaps. That will do me.

Don't be silly, it will all be cuddles and handshakes as usual. Be friends off the field, of course, but let's get a bit of white line fever for players who have left for once.

I will admit to be disappointed to see him kick 6, such is the human mind...

But I quickly went to 'meh.'

I mean, his character is a bag of cats, I guess there is no better place for him...

I believe he will still be hampered with foot injuries. His sort of injury will continue to flare up and give him grief. I had a not too similar foot injury and

surgery about 4-5 years ago. I did all of the appropriate rehab, gave up running, netball, tennis and high heels! My surgeon told me that foot injuries continue to be problematic and I can vouch for that. This surgeon looks after a lot of AFL players and is very well known. I doubt MC will last the distance when serious footy begins.

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by jane02

The thing that intrigues me about the whole Clark-saga is that half the Melbourne team (including the leadership group and captain) went to his wedding. You cannot tell me that he completely farked over the MFC and had the captain and LG and most of the playing list attending his wedding. Either he was shown the door by Roo's/PJ after something has happened, or our playing list truly don't care.

I will admit to be disappointed to see him kick 6, such is the human mind...

But I quickly went to 'meh.'

I mean, his character is a bag of cats, I guess there is no better place for him...

I envy you. I just felt sick watching it.

I also noticed that he turned down an interview after,the game. Not up to speaking to the public. Except to Geelong supporters. Then he's all laughter and handshakes.

I envy you. I just felt sick watching it.

I also noticed that he turned down an interview after,the game. Not up to speaking to the public. Except to Geelong supporters. Then he's all laughter and handshakes.

Life and fate are funny things - I think the club is better off with Lumumba in there than Clark, and I know it isn't an either/or situation. But maybe fate conspired to do it this way for a reason.

I just hope he takes a hanger on Hawkins and injures them both

Repeat of Mitch's elbow meeting Jono Brown's head at in Bris? That was truely sickening to watch.

https://youtu.be/10o9oR3TxUs

Edit, not sure why it comes up as a link rather than youtube screen....

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by Moonshadow

Life and fate are funny things - I think the club is better off with Lumumba in there than Clark, and I know it isn't an either/or situation. But maybe fate conspired to do it this way for a reason.

I hope you're correct. My reservation comes down to how much fate has screwed us over in the past.

Prince will be a good get and it lessens the blow, that much I will agree with.

I've been reading Demonland this year for the first time, but after reading this thread I've decided to sign up and post my thoughts for the first time.

All the people on here spraying Clarke clearly have no idea what mental state the man was in when it came time to leave the club. I know for a fact that he was suffering from depression and was in a very low place. For him to come out and publicly admit it took a lot of courage and I applaud him for doing it and taking some of the stigma away from it. There are many young men in the community suffering with depression and abuse and narrow mindedness like this will not help.

When you're in the macho environment of a footy club, standing up and saying I have a problem and I need help takes some guts.

Who are people on here to spray Clarke for admitting he had a problem. Or to say he's lying about it. You don't know him. Would they prefer he stayed quiet, stayed at the club against his doctors advice, kept taking the $1m a year in salary, still not play due to mental illness and not recover.

Melbourne is better off not having him on our list taking the $$ and not playing. We've at least brought in H who hopefully will provide something.

I know one thing. Whilst I love this game, it's just that, a GAME. And a young man's mental health for now and the long term is far more important.

Yes, it will hurt to watch him kicking goals for the cats, but it's much better than possible alternatives.

As for 'booing' him... I certainly won't be one of those supporters. I suggest people have a good hard look at themselves if they're going to be in this camp.

Think about if this was your friend, brother or son.

The man was sick, he sought treatment, followed doctors advice and is still improving and still has a long way to go.

I wish him well......... unless he's playing against us!

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by chops38

The thing that intrigues me about the whole Clark-saga is that half the Melbourne team (including the leadership group and captain) went to his wedding. You cannot tell me that he completely farked over the MFC and had the captain and LG and most of the playing list attending his wedding. Either he was shown the door by Roo's/PJ after something has happened, or our playing list truly don't care.

or people around here dont know what the playing group knows. Much here is based on mistruths and a wide range of ill found rumours. Question is - Can Demonland handle the truth? I dont think so.

I wish him well......... unless he's playing against us!

Unfortunately, he hasn't explained why he isn't playing for us though - other than a so-called require scenery change. Please excuse us for scoffing in that general direction.

Most of us respect his issues, but not the way in which he has handled himself while pushing to play for another club.

If he was so damaged by his last year at the Demons he should be playing for a team on the coast and taking pictures.

He doesn't need to play AFL, he doesn't need to be playing for Geelong, he hasn't properly explained why he is and that is why he is being judged so harshly by so many people - not just Dees fans.

chops, welcome.

Re your post, you are missing the point somewhat. I think a majority aren't trying to downplay depression as a condition. Many posters here have outed themselves as suffering from mental health issues so there is sympathy in that regard.

Where there isn't sympathy is for the way in which Clark has conducted himself. How he has used up the club's resources in his physical and mental recovery up until the last minute when he turned his back on it to go and play for a top four club whilst refusing to speak to those who have supported him through the whole thing - the fans.

Don't forget that this isn't an isolated incident. When leaving Brisbane it was on the grounds to go home to Perth to be with his family. A last minute sack of money and he was on his way to Melbourne.

This is someone who, externally, seems to be of questionable honour. That is distinct from any mental health issue.

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by P-man

I don't know how unwell he was but I accept he WAS crook. What I don't follow is why he could not return to the club that supported him so thoroughly.

Did he also have to change his girlfriend? His car? His clothes? Were they all tainted by association with his illness too?

That was where we were scammed.

And sour long disappointed Demon that I am I was disappointed to see him kick six, but you know what? When he came to us the word was he was physically fragile, and so he proved to be.

He will most likely break again. Take comfort in that, and also the fact that the Cats are on the slide. Yes they've got Hawkins who is a legitimate power forward but so much of their engine room has many clicks on the clock.

Long may they rot.

I agree i think we just have to take him on face value with his battle of depression. I have two cousins in the AFL at interstate clubs who have mentioned there are alot of players who struggle with anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. This is why some turn to alchol and drugs..

Its the people like Mitch Clark and Simon Hogan who are willing stand up publicly and admit confess their problems.

Unfortunately, he hasn't explained why he isn't playing for us though - other than a so-called require scenery change. Please excuse us for scoffing in that general direction.

Most of us respect his issues, but not the way in which he has handled himself while pushing to play for another club.

If he was so damaged by his last year at the Demons he should be playing for a team on the coast and taking pictures.

He doesn't need to play AFL, he doesn't need to be playing for Geelong, he hasn't properly explained why he is and that is why he is being judged so harshly by so many people - not just Dees fans.

Hi RPFC.

But he did explain why he isn't playing for us. He has depression.... and part of his doctors recommendations on how he can recover is to change his environment. This is a common recommendation in similar situations.

Who are we to say that's not the case?

And yes, you're right. He doesn't 'need' to play afl. No one 'needs' to play AFL. But why shouldn't he if he can and it's not going to hurt his ongoing recovery.

My point is simply, people here have no idea about what was and is still going on inside his head. So let's stop being so negative and look at the positives that we as a club can take out of this.

- No longer paying the massive salary

- He wasn't playing games for us anyway

- We've ended up with Lamumba he may be really good for the clubs development

Bottom line : Even if you believe his h0rsesh1t story about being depressed and needing to retire, you can't excuse him going to another club when he was 'well' again. You could talk for 1000 years and I wouldn't be convinced otherwise.

Bottom line : Even if you believe his h0rsesh1t story about being depressed and needing to retire, you can't excuse him going to another club when he was 'well' again. You could talk for 1000 years and I wouldn't be convinced otherwise.

He's not 'well' again, he still has a long way to go... metal illness is not something that you can just flick a switch and recover from.

Edited March 12, 201510 yr by chops38

am not fussed...the karma faeries will smack his bum big time soon enough.

Let the cats get excited for 5 mins....misery can last a lot longer.

Im glad hes gone...couldnt care one iota really what he does or doesnt do. He joins a list of persona absque conscientia.

wont waste another pixel on the bloke

Go Dees

He's not 'well' again, he still has a long way to go... metal illness is not something that you can just flick a switch and recover from.

that's not even a response. How does that relate to him going to Geelong?