Sam Newman's comments on Mitch Clark

[Its Time for Another 4,218]

Mitch Clark, Scully, Chris Judd, Robbie Warnock..... Have all taught me a lesson. They all rejected MFC and the result was often better for us.

I really liked Clark's replacement's game last week. He gave MFC something it's been missing for years. A player who can single handedly change the momentum of a game. Who know's this might be more important for us in the next few years than a Full Forward. It really doesn't matter if it doesn't because it is what it is. Let's move on and enjoy the resurgence.

I bet you on Monday night no one would have been more aware than MC of how differently he would have been feeling if he'd been there on Saturday instead of Monday. He picked a team that is undoubtedly on the way down. None of their wins are going to mean as much as our wins over the next few years. That's what he gets to look forward to. Time to move on. Go Heritier. (Had to check the spelling three times) He's the only person that is relevant out of the MC saga.

[DeeSpencer 25,711]

So Clark received medical advice that he had to leave the club to get better.

Of course that didn't stop him coming back to us and using our facilities and getting one on one coaching sessions from our footy and fitness coaches to get him back up to an acceptable level. But his doctor said not to come back? Or was it because the club was offering him about a half of what other clubs were giving?

https://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/boy.html

He was back on our list effectively as he was ours to trade. We got him fit so he had trade value that we could use for Lumumba. Instead of burning a 2nd or 3rd round pick on an important player in Lumumba we traded Clark and then had a stronger hand at the draft. If either Neal-Bullen or Oscar McDonald ever go on to be good players we can thank the fitness staff for getting Clark back on track for having those selections.

There may or may not be plenty to be critical of Clark about. But I'm thankful he got it together in time for the trade period. You should be too.

[hemingway 7,627]

Thanks for that.

Is it an illness or a disorder ?

It is an interesting question. Personally I go with illness rather than disorder for a number of reasons that best suit a conversation rather than comments here. Many would disagree.

There is plenty of literature on this question which you can access in which this issue is discussed.

[Little Richard 6,262]

Depression is a disease, no doubt.

And ill bet he was being sledged for walking out on 2 clubs and screwing Freo in between. Hes just so sensitive that he couldn't take hearing the truth,.

Brisbane supporters hate him as much or more than us. And lets not forget he told Brisbane he wanted to go back to Perth for 'family reasons'

Next minute hes on his way to Melbourne chasing $$$

The guy is a lying sack of crap

I'm very anti Clark but that's not quite right. It's Selwood that is pushing this.

The whole thing is a prime example of why the media can be such a disgusting, festering ball of lies and agendas. There is no freakin evidence that the sledges in question were about his depression, yet the whole football world is going crazy because a couple of bulldust, fluff articles allude to that being the case. They have nothing to go on, and I personally don't believe that players could get away with making comments about his depression on the field without a very serious dust up occurring.

The whole thing is total rubbish.

[chook fowler 19,459]

A disease ?

This doesn't make sense tom me.

A disease is a process that impairs normal functioning and as such depression is absolutely a disease and is recognised by mental health professionals as such.

From my previous posts you will realise this is not a defence, by me, of Clarks behaviour. He is a devious manipulator and it is for this that he is being sledged, not his supposed depressive illness.

[sue 9,106]

As far as I am concerned, give us back pick 12 and say $1m of the $2m that we wasted on him and I would have no problems at all with MC and what happened.

It is also laughable, that MC returning to us, was touted by Mark Evans as one of the main reasons he wouldn't give us a PP.

This reminds me why when people say the AFL is corrupt, they are correct. Perhaps not in the sense of accepting backhanders, nobbling tribunals etc (though nothing would surprise me), but certainly in the sense that their processes are improper and the AFL is not consistently governed.

[hardtack 10,537]

Next minute hes on his way to Melbourne chasing $$$

The guy is a lying sack of crap

Funny, but I don't recall you complaining about him at that time.

[hardtack 10,537]

Wrong, I said it was a dog act at the time, The whole football world did.

Mitch Clark is a prime example that a leopard never changes its spots.

Like I said, I don't recall it. Yet you went on to support him wholeheartedly while he was at the club, did you not? But after he left.... well anything goes with you doesn't it... to the point of condoning sledging him over his depression (take it or hang up the boots).

Edited April 10, 2015 by hardtack

[Akum 2,660]

Funny, but I don't recall you complaining about him at that time.

No, this sort of thing happens from time to time - Thompson, Jolley etc. It's a bit irregular, nobody really likes it, the injured party gets a bit upset, but the recipient rarely makes a fuss. It's one of the parts of trading that's "not nice", but people accept it.

Until it happens twice with the same player. And the second is much more of a dog act than the first. Especially if said player takes advantage of the second club's bona fides, and moves from a bottom club to a top club.

It would seem that, as much as you & one or two other posters would like us to "move on" and sweep it under the carpet, the football public outside our club and its supporters are not prepared to do that. So Clark - and you - will just have to cop it.

It's called consequences. My five-year-old gets it. Seems Clark doesn't.

[daisycutter 29,616]

personally i don't like any sledging. it's un-sportsman like and designed to get an unfair advantage

i'm not talking about the "chewy onya boot" stuff

yes, i know this is not a popular opinion

Edited April 10, 2015 by daisycutter

[dazzledavey36 54,944]

Lets just all be honest.. The only reason Mitch Clark left was because of Saty constantly harrassing him on twitter and training.

?

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

I seriously doubt anyone sledged Clark. Mitch Clark is a professional victim, he will do and say anything for attention/sympathy.

True. Has he converted to Islam??

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Like I said, I don't recall it. Yet you went on to support him wholeheartedly while he was at the club, did you not? But after he left.... well anything goes with you doesn't it... to the point of condoning sledging him over his depression (take it or hang up the boots).

Do you recall the Big Bang? Just because you can't recall someone doesn't mean it didn't happen..

[ManDee 7,148]

Do you recall the Big Bang? Just because you can't recall someone doesn't mean it didn't happen..

I like Penny. I suppose you are more the Sheldon type?

[jumbo returns 6,741]

MC's exit doesn't grate me as much as Scully's....dunno why....

[13thFlagIsComing 542]

In all the worksafe commercials I hear:

"the best way to recover is to get back to work"

not

" the best way to recover is to get back to work...for someone else."

[Moneider96 1,045]

My God, I did not know this would get it's own thread, let alone be such a contentious issue.

[Its Time for Another 4,218]

MC's exit doesn't grate me as much as Scully's....dunno why....

So you'd rather have kept Scully than get Hogan and Dawes. Time to let go and enjoy the ride.

[chook fowler 19,459]

personally i don't like any sledging. it's un-sportsman like and designed to get an unfair advantage

i'm not talking about the "chewy onya boot" stuff

yes, i know this is not a popular opinion

There are exceptions to every rule, and Clark and Scully are those exceptions.

By the way I gather you don't mind sledging Saty.

[hardtack 10,537]

Do you recall the Big Bang? Just because you can't recall someone doesn't mean it didn't happen..

Watch it regularly.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

I don't doubt you

[Lucifers Hero 39,811]

Maybe it was all a furphy: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-wont-investigate-mitch-clark-sledging-claims-until-geelong-lodge-complaint-20150410-1mi6xw.html

Some extracts:

AFL: "...the AFL was hesitant to act before the Cats came forward. "It's hard to investigate without a complaint. There's little to go on,"

HFC: "Hawthorn and Geelong Football Clubs have been in contact this morning regarding reports of an on-field verbal exchange in the Easter Monday clash," the statement said. "We have found it difficult to get clarity on what was said and by whom..."

Cook: "We just don't know whether it was true or false. We don't like the possibility that it may have happened."

GFC: A Cats spokeswoman said "the club has nothing to add on the issue."

It is up to Mitch to tell his club who the player was and what was said. On the above this appears uncertain. I hope for Mitch's sake it was true otherwise he has dropped his captain into a bucket of poo and made him look a public fool! If not true Mitch is in for a world of pain with his new teammates.

Can't say that I feel sorry for him. Something about 'just desserts' comes to mind

Edited April 10, 2015 by Lucifer's Hero

[hardtack 10,537]

I don't doubt you

Nor do I

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Here is my take on it, particularly the Mitch Clark response, he wants to just play footy, probably didn't expect to get sledged re the depression but did, and let it pass

Unfortunately it has now come up again. and the [censored] Newman inflamed the situation

Me, haven't watched the Footy Show for about 5 years now,

NITV - Marngrook Footy Show - great show last night Francis Burke, Kevin Bartlett (being KB), Tyson Goldsack and Flash Davey on the panel alongside Gilbert McAdam

[Lucifers Hero 39,811]

Here is my take on it, particularly the Mitch Clark response, he wants to just play footy, probably didn't expect to get sledged re the depression but did, and let it pass

Unfortunately it has now come up again. and the [censored] Newman inflamed the situation

Saty, it is one thing for you to be defender of the faith when it comes to our players and our club. But please to defend a player that left to go to another club in less than amicable circumstances! Seriously!

...if he let it (the sledging) pass then who the hell told (complained) to his captain? Nah mate at some point Mitch has to be held responsible for what he says and does. At GFC one way or another they will hold him to account if he 'imagined' the 'sledging'. Good on them I say...reap what you sow...