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I wish Mitch well and that he does make a return to the club and makes a significant contribution. However, if Peter Jackson is asking lapsed members for their trust, I would like also as a current and continuing member to also have the benefit of some trust back as well. I'm not specifically referring to Mitch but in general, please stop feeding us the BS about injured players. Rather than have us expecting significant players to return in the weeks before the start of the season when that is a remote possibility, give us something that remotely resembles reality.

Stuies thread was a great idea and never should have been merged with a thread about offloading Mitch because he is injured, what's worse is that people who claim to be demon supporters couldn't embrace the chance to say something positive and vent on another thread, i mean it really isn't that complicated.

Honestly some of the [censored] being written here is embarrassing. I wish Mitch nothing but the best of health, physical and mental. He has been nothing but a wonderful presence at our club, and deserves our support. Obviously he's going through a hard time, and I completely sympathise with the struggles of having to deal with a serious, life changing injury. When at 25 it could also end his career, the pain would be twice as overwhelming. Take the time you need and get the care, love and support that you deserve and I genuinely hope we see you back in the red & blue someday soon. If not, well you still have your entire life ahead of you, a family that loves you and a promising talent you can nurture and develop.

Please no-one link to this site and tweet Clark... Just terrible - the whole thing. We all want a better club culture - well here is the first test of that. Remember there is an individual in the middle of your point scoring.

Hey guys, I know this isn't a serious footy discussion type of post, but I was just thinking about our man Mitch and reading the comments about the Season Launch Dinner etc, and wondering if we could maybe make a thread to show some support to a guy who is a favourite of a lot of us. Whatever is happening with his injury status, taking a break etc, I think we can all agree that big Mitch is our heart, and maybe we can get behind him enough that he at least knows us MFC supporters love him in the red and blue and we're behind him during this tough time. So, in the spirit of the "Hero Messages" they do during the Olympics, how about we make this thread a place to leave some positive support for the big fella, and then maybe after a couple of days someone can post a link to this thread on his facebook page. Thoughts? Starters?

Seriously guys you need to have a good hard look at yourselves. Yes I get it that he is not playing but the news for you is that he was injured playing for the club and the club will need to uphold his contract. Any thought of him retiring and absolving the club of it's financial responsibility let alone it's moral responsibility is totally reprehensible. Grow up... ...and if you want to talk about a professional club then who do you think would want to come to a club that treated it's players like this, you would think it's Mitch's fault he got injured. I've never read so much rubbish in all my life. Maybe I need to get out a bit more.

I cannot believe ppl on here are suggesting we don't honor Clark's contract which runs until the end 2015. He had a serious career threatening foot injury while playing like superman, worked hard to come back the following season playing well in 4 games before complications arose requiring him to have another operation to remove screws from his foot. He builds up to a level where before suffering soft tissue injuries in late December he is looking a good chance for round 1. The players and coaches vote him into the leadership group, clearly seeing him as an important leader. The injurues he has suffered are not his fault. He joined the club on a 4 year contract and should be paid a 4 year contract regardless of whether he is able to play again.

IF the club had your mindset they would be broke you just dont walk away when your on 35 grand a game, if he cant do his rehab and give the fans and the club some bang for there buck its time to retire the supporters have had an absolute gut full of it.

Or. conversely, keep your hand on it Stu and relieve all that tension. I'm concerned for your health.

are you crazy or just plain dumb stuie no player should be on demonland (same for other clubs' forums) nor should a poster encourage it are you naive enough to think a player could come on and just view one thread? FMD

Geezzz.....One thread to discuss the pros and cons, moneys paid......who to replace with ect...ect One to support Clark......It is not difficult......

no, he didn't say 'hourly updates'. You said that. He said 'something near reality'. Why do people here exaggerate somebody's comment and then respond to their own exaggeration? 'Hey man you want a camera on mitch clark 24/7!?' No, no I don't. That's not what I said. Grr. they obviously have a policy of completely BSing us and it's infuriating

This post says much more about your development than his.I wish Mitch all the best. The love all Melbourne fans feel for him, and the standing he is held in even by opposition fans, is testament to his character and ability - especially given the limited opportunities he's had to display his wares for the Dees. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope like all buggery to see him again in the Red and Blue - if not, I wish him all the best for the future.

Please stop supporting a system that is not working. Clearly the majority of supporters would like the truth and not the current Mushroom factory deal. AS I have said If they don't know what is wrong or how long Hogan will be out tell us. I struggle to see what is lost by that and there is considerable to be gained IMO.

He is finished for 2014 beyond that who knows. Time to spend brain time who are our best available forwards. And consider the future recruits needed

1. He wanted to go home because he was raising a young daughter. He took the extra cash and easier trade because that was what he thought would help his family long term compared to being home in Perth 2. Brisbane players are morons. They pretty much happily sat back and watched 5 talented youngsters walk out of the place. The culture up there is nearly as bad as Melbourne's 3. If Mitch needs to be in Perth to be supported by his family on and off the field I'd gladly trade him tomorrow. Heck delist him now with full pay and let him train under guidance from a WAFL club and try to be drafted by a WA club. I've got no problem with that. But Mitch Clark played with more passion than anyone maybe besides Nath Jones and James McDonald in the last 5 or so years when he pulled on the red and blue. Until I hear otherwise I'll trust that he wants to give his all to the MFC. As far as I can tell he's having issues that are exacerbated by repeat injuries that have him questioning his commitment as an AFL player and those types of issues can't be overcome with just a click of the finger and saying ok I'm going to do it for MFC. But until I hear otherwise I have full faith that he'd really like to be out there for us.

Well as an ex rusted on Fitzroy supporter and member I can tell you that as a family we moved to the Melbourne football club when the AFL sent our old club ( in name only really ) to Brisbane. We had to ask ourselves if we wanted to give our hard earned and time to a club that was nearly two thousand Kms away. After we agreed not to do what Oakley and the commission wanted us to do and loving actually going to the footy we looked around the clubs in the city and decided on Melbourne. Why ? Well for a start it holds the name of the great city we lived in and the rest of the clubs were representing just suburbs. I can tell you now that even through the tough and challenging times we've loved this beautiful historic old club and I personally have been a member now for 16 years. That's Gold Jerry ! Anyway if the circumstances are severe enough you can change. Oh and it's great to have Roosy back .

Many MFC supporters, myself and OD included have stuck through far worse than the loss of a player. It is, above all, a team game

I'm not excited about Fitzpatrick but I have an expectation that he will be a serviceable player who will maybe throw in the occasional really good game. He has to hold his marks up forward and unfortunately he has a tendency to be a bit inconsistent in that respect. Watts; well who knows, I think he'll always be the type of player who will do well when those around him are, but if they aren't; well I wouldn't expect him to lift them.

I wish I'd started this thread as a social experiment to see if MFC supporters on Demonland were capable of supporting one of our own in a time of need with resorting to petty arguments, rumours, and just plain insensitive dumb comments. Unfortunately it was started to simply support a fellow demon but it's been ruined by those incapable of maturity and lacking understanding. And we wonder why our culture has been so bad.

Obviously a lot of people on here that have never had to deal with mental health issues. Come back after you or somebody close to you has had to deal with it and see if you have the same attitude.

Hallelujah to that WJ. I have had it with this BS we are fed on a weekly basis. If Dawes is the first of May tell us if Hogan is we don't know, Tell us. WE have not had a forward line for two years will another month or two make any difference?

Mitch, you have shown in your time with Melbourne you are an immensely talented, courageous and respected footballer. Things haven't gone your way recently but off field you have continued to contribute anyway you can and you have the respect from players, the club and true supporters. Being voted into the leadership group every year with a club is extremely rare and testament to who you are as a person. Whatever your issues they have been have been faced by others before, currently and will be in future, They are not insurmountable, even if you feel that way currently, Get the right help and know your football club is the best support you can have. We supporters share your frustration and can be impatient at times but only because we want you doing what you do so well in the red and blue. Ultimately, you need to do what is best for you in your own time. We will still be here, Good luck and good health mate.

I suffer from Stockholm syndrome.

Somebody asked me last week, what would it take to make me change my allegiance to the Melbourne Football Club and I answered that I didn't believe that it was possible. After all, I've lived through the 22 seasons in between 1964 and 1987 during which time we were an on field basket case for most of the time, witnessed some crushing grand final losses in 1988 and 2000 and endured the final moments of the 1987 preliminary final. Went through the debilitating losses of the past few seasons, the tanking season, the inquisition that followed and the division in the ranks leading up to the club's humiliating year in 2013. I stuck fat and unbelievably, so did a capacity crowd in the MCC dining room last night (along with many on the waiting list who left it till too late to book) and the 30k supporters who have already signed up as members and hopefully, the many more who are yet to join. I'm under no illusions as to the hard road that lies ahead, particularly in view of the continuing (mystery) injury saga inflicting our best tall forwards and ruckmen. Hopefully, the mixture of patience and optimism that I have for the club and which was reinforced by Paul Roos' words last night translate into something substantive that rewards our faith in the red and the blue. I can't think of anything that might shake my belief in my club, but this former fan of another club has decided that the time has come - Going West

Mcdonald cant kick But at least hes on the park

It would have been pretty cool to keep the thread positive and then link it to Mitch's twitter or something

Love me some Alexis Georgiou Cult figure in the making and will play round 1 for sure

Sometimes the term 'spin' cops a bad rap. All it is, is someone's version of the truth. What's most refreshing about PJ is his admission that the club betrayed its supporters. I hope he strikes a chord with a few (thousands).

Case in point. The other thread was for discussion about the situation, this thread, as clearly stated in the OP, was for supportive messages for him. Obviously you either have no comprehension of the difference or you're just "too tough" to just support someone without having to "ask questions". You are more than welcome to post whatever you want about this situation in the thread for that purpose, but go back and read the OP here and see what this thread was meant to be for.

Get off yiur horse Stuie. You started this thread because you didnt like the tone of another. Dont pretend you're any better than others. Many are quite capable of good intent and wishing well of our lot but we are also at liberty to disect bullshlt from chocolate mouse. No one wishs ill of Mitch. But at 1/2 m pa we're entitled to ask some questions

I can't believe people are worried about if it's paid leave or not, he's a demon player going through a tough time, either offer something supportive or keep quiet it's really not that hard, it's this basic common sense that seperates us from Collingwood supporters and right now we look just as bad. All the best Mitch!

Bookies win again

tm he is clearly going to be no use this year. You cannot come back from no training form January till when ever and expect to be any good this year. You have to look at players that miss a month of pre season training they are generally poor all year. Clark will have played 15 games out of a possible 66. IMO it would be wise to look else where. We are stuck with him till the end of 2015 for better or worse. I am not suggesting we throw him in the street but IMO to be banking on him to make some miraculous recovery is fool hardy. I bet the FD is right this minute planning for a replacement. If they are not I would be very disappointed.

That's my point. Rockliff giving them a send off on twitter and Brown referring to them as fringe non best 22 players is not culture. Culture is realising you have a majority of players from interstate and making sure you work as hard as you can to prevent homesicknesses. Especially for guys who are very talented but fringe 22. Not so much Longer and Karnezis but definitely Yeo, Docherty and Polec are going to hurt Brisbane. It's no surprise they recruited Moloney because he fits the blokey old school culture that Brisbane had up there under Voss and one that if it continues will keep costing them with 18 year olds taken from interstate.

More likely the first crack in a great culture, caused by the sacking of a few popular players, for a Buddy.

So much for showing support. So much for culture change. So much for supporting one of our own. Some of you need to take a long hard look at yourselves. And to think this thread was started with the intention of showing Mitch... Mods feel free to edit out the dh posts or just delete the thread. I was already depressed about one of my favourite demons being on leave, but seeing the pathetic nature of some of our "supporter" base just makes it even worse.

For him or us? Us? We'll lick our wounds, treasure the memories and watch Hogan up forward instead. If it's not Clark, it's a promising kid like Fitzy or Watts who gets a go. For him? It's his life, passion and livelihood. A true predicament.

Everyone just needs to leave him alone any negatives that are holding him back need to be removed from his life. Anything regarding his personal life, his family or his contract should be off limits and certain people should mind their own business, any childish or inconsiderate comments should not be made, the old saying 'don't kick a dog when he is down' should be remembered. Just give him some time to be alone with his family away from the media. Has anyone actually thought he might want to be away from the club for the benefit of the other players. If he is in a bad place mentally he wouldn't want to bring the positive feel around the club down. I suspect he wants to get himself right and come back to the club when he is in a positive space so he can help the club improve. I think we should get used to the fact that this takes time, negatives or nosy cants like journo's should fuuk right off out of his business for a while.

Mods PLEASE help me keep this thread to it's intended purpose, to support a demon. Let's be gown ups and keep the rumours and insults to another thread guys. The idea was to show this to Mitch as a support mechanism, not show him how many tools are MFC supporters.

He has been injured for a season and a half now all of a sudden at the season opener he want to and I'm just quoting what Richo and the boys said after the Tigers V GC game "to take a break from footy to face some demons" . I hate to say it and I hope Im wrong but that sounds like his heading home to think about continuing playing football.

Exactly seems like depression to me...the way the statement from the club is worded,its like the injury is secondary to the "health problems" he is experiencing.

4 number 1 picks and 27 first rounders... Was going to happen eventually...

Mitchy, In the dozen or so games you've played for us, you've shown great courage, skill and determination. IMO the game is worse off for you not being out on the park. Good luck with whatever it is that is holding you back, stay strong and keep fighting.

Conditions no excuse, Cameron kicked 4 and Patton 3. Franklin and Sydney can eat it, to be frank. No sympathy for them at all.

to read between the lines, it perhaps seems like he might be battling some mental demons, perhaps triggered or not helped by being unable to get himself right to do something he loves. Take as long as you need Mitch. Some things are more important than football.

Even though he has played bugger all games I remember his games more then anyone's over the last two years. His six goals at West Coast, Nearly killing himself in marking contests against the doggies, his game down at Geelong and giving GWS a flogging before going down. He was a major reason why I went to games. This bloke never backs down and is a damn good footy player. Cheers to you Mitch "My man crush" Clark.

I cannot even entertain the concept of changing teams ever. I was born a Demon and will die a Demon. If the club folded, I would give up AFL for good. My best friend is a life long Essendon supporter and seriously considering following the Dogs.

Often said and still believe that if MFC folded I would quit being a passionate AFL supporter. Most probably sign up with the Tigers (basketball). Not saying I would never attend or watch a game of AFL again, just wouldn't be the same.

Lets not go through this again...