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We are the Melbourne Football Club. We have existed for 152 years and we have won 12 premierships. Great players have graced our fields and given their all for nothing more than being part of the club. Some of those players have won flags and others like the great Robbie Flower just gave their all. Mitch Clark played 12 games and took a few million dollars from us. Will be the most hated player in history if he screws us over.

I honestly think it'll break me beyond repair. It will be the lowest, most heart breaking moment in what has already been an awful decade for this club. Jim handed Mitch his number 11 jumper. We supported him through injuries and depression and I was so proud of the club and Clark for how the situation was handled. To have it end with him playing for another club, would be beyond comprehendible. I mean how many more blows can we take as supporters?

Gee, it's all Schrodinger's Cat at the moment. It seems the spin about Clark not wanting to be at the Demons was started by Barrett, who blatantly salivates at any chance of things going wrong for Melbourne. But, the possibility has to be considered. I count four possibilities; 1. Mitch Clark decides, after 'investigating' the possibilites, that AFL level, complete with the rampaging media scrutiny that instantly inflated the moment there was even a murmur of activity, is not for him. Plays out a stellar career in the VFL or WAFL. Perfectly reasonable. 2. Mitch Clark comes back to the Melbourne Football Club. Every sheds a tear of joy and bursts a lung cheering for him every time he gets near the ball. 3. Mitch Clark decides that an AFL re-start is a good idea, but it needs to be a genuinely fresh start at a new club. He goes out of his way to ensure that Melbourne is well compensated for his loss, and chips in a solid whack of currency to the Reach foundation, recognising that there are so many people dealing with mental illness that don't have anything like the unconditional support (and salary) that Mitch has received. 4. Mitch Clark restarts his AFL career as a 'delisted' free agent, with no compensation for Melbourne, and is forever remember as the guy who used depression as a ticket to be an 4rsehole, doing real harm not just to the club but everyone suffering under the stigmas of depression. I have no problem at all with possibilities 1 to 3. But if 4 happens Mitch will become the first player I have ever made a special point of booing, any chance I get. A lot of people, including me, put their own feelings second, in favour of showing empathy and acceptance for his problems. And like I said, it is not just the club being hurt by 'Number 4'; such behavior would basically give a free hit to anyone out there who wants to portray depression and anxiety as a sook's disease. I'll be watching closely. And, in accordance with the Schrodinger's Cat analogy, until someone opens the box I will unfortunately be experiencing the emotions of both the acceptable and unacceptable scenarios.

It seems that no so long ago he was Superman affected by the Kryptonite we call depression but now he is just Clark 'the total" Kent

It would be helpful if Mitch's manager would clarify the situation. I think the club is owed that much in the situation.

Excuse me, he was signed on a 3 year $2m plus contract.

If he wants to live in Melbourne and isn't playing with our club I'll be quite [censored] off to be honest. If he wants to live interstate (wa) and wants to play over there fine, but in Victoria he should play for us. I feel like we have been more than patient and understanding with him in terms of being on such big money and having lengthy times out injured, and I feel we supported and assisted him perfectly in terms of his battle with his mental demons. Not saying he "owes" us by a long shot, just saying that if he plays in Victoria it should be for the Victorian family that has loved and stood by him and supported him since the day he arrived.

If he goes anywhere else it might just be the final straw for me as a Melbourne supporter. Can't keep getting punched in the guts like this.

There are some pretty ugly comments written here. Everyone needs to calm down. Nothing is official yet.

Do people really think harassing him via social media is a great idea? It's been 10 hours and people here have wound themselves into a state of paranoia. Just like Frawley, lots of people savaging him before a comment/decision has been made. Calm down, wait for an announcement from his camp. As many rational people on here have already said, there has been no quote from his manager saying it won't be at MFC.

Peter Jackson and Paul Roos will not be made fools of, thats for sure Look forward to seeing them with the gloves off

I would hope that the AFL's solution to this is simply to hold him to his contract. If they declare that he is still our list then he's still contracted for another 2-3 years. That would give us the upper hand in trading him and prevent him from going either to the draft of the FA pool. If he chooses to walk away from his contract then the standard two year ban applies. See if anyone will take him at 28 when he hasn't played for three years. Not only is that a club playing hardball, but it is actually fair to all parties.

If this is true by Ralph then Clark will be a hated player more so then Scully by alot of Melbourne supporters. What people dont realized is the MFC also paid for his missus uni course. Pull ya head in Clark

If we swapped Mitch for Floggy O we will be a bigger laughing stock than we already are. If and I mean IF Mitch wants to play at another vic club, we either get a top 10 pick for him, or he can go to any club he wants, when his contract expires at the end of next year. Time for this club to become a strong club.

Just don't go reaching for the pitchforks until we hear something definite from Mitch or the club. The big guy gave us his all until his body broke down and deserves some respect. Also we've got good people running the show now who aren't going let us get dudded in all this.

He doesn't play, nothing changes. He plays with us and gets his career back on track. He attempts a comeback and breaks down. He plays for someone else and we get a good player in return, would need to be a really good player from a Melbourne club desperate for a forward. Think doggies, cats, blues or pies...Stringer, Duncan, Gibbs or Sidebottom. Some will say he's not worth it but someone will take the plunge, he will make the difference if fit and that won't be our problem if he's not. At worst nothing changes, at best we get a good player. Either Clark or someone else. It's to easy to get worked up about something I'm pretty sure Roos and Jackson will have in their plans. Think the Roos speech the other night about "if you don't want to be here'...think Jackson asking for special assistance.

If this is true about the club being happy to trade him I will lose whatever faith I have in this bloody club. Get ya [censored] together MFC!

If Clark returns in Melbourne but not for Melbourne then something has to have happened that we're not privy to. It makes no sense otherwise - we need him as a player and he's been a clear supporter of the club during his time out. It's not money either; we would be in a good position to pay him plenty. So either there's something we haven't been told, or Barrett is just a windbag. Both scenarios equally likely.

Insensitive people laugh at me wearing Spandex.

Sometimes Demonland is like talk back radio. The later it gets, the weirder it gets.

I imagine there's something going on behind the scenes or he would've said something already. Strange situation, but people are jumping at shadows at the moment. I'm gonna sleep on it.

444 people reading this page, holy hell. Hi Damian Barrett.

For once everyone seems united in a thread.

neither. as i said, i'm happy for him to play for any club interstate but to see him taking big grabs and kicking big goals for Hawthorn, Essendon, Geelong etc. makes me feel physically sick and sad.

I read GNF's posts in the same way I read Nudge's. I enjoy them because they say things I like to hear and gets me pondering the possibilities, but as to actually believing them... Colour me a sceptic.

Didn't see it, but I'd bet money she went off half cocked and abused him for going. Stupid fans on Twitter definitely do not help our cause.

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

Left arm surgery

Paul Roos stated when Clark retired we lost arguably our best player. No disrespect but I don't think there was any argument. If we don't want him something is not right. I would be very disappointed if Clark chose to go elsewhere to re-start. If he wanted to be at MFC and we have chosen not to have him I think an explanation from the club will be required to members. All those that think it will be awful to see him back in other colours at least consider that if so it will be via trade.

The club has done what's best for Mitch so far, admirable. The club must now do what's best for MFC. If he wants to go, we must play hard ball.

I feel sick.

There has been no quotes from his manager or himself saying that he does not want to play with Melbourne, something a lot of people are ignoring.

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

watching Ollie Wines turn it on in a final .. torture

UHHH its YOUR club who is slowing the whole thing down mate. And not much wrong means they did SOME wrong. IF you want it over, stop the court cases and answer the show cause notices!

If he plays for an WA club fair enough but if he plays for another Melbourne based club well....

Bet Toiges wished they had finished 9th now !!!

Except if was enjoyable.

Booed, I'll run him over! Joking, relax! I wouldn't dint my car!

If he ends up at another club, will he be booed by our meagre remaining supporter base? It would be totally justified if he was in any colours other than our red and blue.

make a stand refuse to trade him, we will get bugger all anyway

If he has any integrity and goes to another Victorian club I hope he does the honourable thing and gives the club back all the money we gave him for his photography gap year.

Can't help but feel we're gettin' stooged here.

If only it were that easy...

Does it really matter where he goes ? Couldn't really give a toss. Hes gone/going. Ho hum Only thing of interest is how we will utilise the compo... thats moving on