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I treat people with depression every day and have done so for a while now. I have heard in the media this idea that the only way to recover from depression is to leave the context in which it has arisen - to completely change one's environment. Let me guarantee everyone that this is obnoxiously stupid. If Mitch has been advised to do that - and his agent confirmed that he had - then he is being poorly treated to say the least. IF the advice is more nuanced, then I can understand it, to a point. What I would like to say is that much of the issue with depression is the internalised stuff - and changing environments may well do little to alter that. Depression is episodic. Most people recover. A significant proportion are vulnerable to relapse, but that can be managed too in many cases. Especially if you have the financial resources and supports that Mitch has. I've been curious from day one about this and nothing is reassuring me about this situation atm.

100% agree, I was diagnosed after our first child ( anxiety, depression ). Glad I didn't get the same advice, " best to leave my wife and kid and find a new environment"

Excuse the random music over the top, But yeh, and aggressive explosive half back who pushes forward hard and gives his Fwds a chance one out with quick delivery would be terrible for this club! That's not what melbourne is about!

N Jones "Mitchell, stop being a d1ckhead" M Clark "Ok"

If Clark chooses to go elsewhere because he is chasing the money or premiership success, than it is an absolute poor reflection of him as a human, depression or no depression. If he is leaving because we don't want him, or because he genuinely feels going back to where it all started would make him relapse, than so be it. Can't judge someone who is trying to get better. It just all smells incredibly fishy to me. As a club we wouldn't spend time and money supporting Mitch through rehab and giving him a fitness program, if we didn't want him back and didn't think there was at least some remote possibility of this happening in the future. I can't believe that Roos and co. changed their minds, it seems much more likely that Mitch and his deadbeat manager are unhappy with the offer we made him, or worse, that Mitch has decided to use this as a convenient excuse to take himself to a more successful club. If either of those scenarios are true, then I wish Clark the best in his recovery from depression, but I hope he never ever plays again.

Gysberts, Morton, Scully, Maric. We delist and trade the right ones, it's picking them that we have the issue with.

Honestly, I had him on my list of straight delistings with half a chance of a low trade. Pretty sure anything we get for him is a bonus along with freeing space up on our list. For all his talent, Blease is lazy and only ever runs one way. If he thinks he'll get a better shot at another club with that attitude he's in for a rude shock.

Dawes has been worth every cent in a couple of matches, and hopelessly outnumbered in others. Sticking a few overhead marks once in a while will go a long way to helping raise my appreciation of him. In fairness, he's been carrying the whole forward line while double tagged by every other coach in the league. Let's see what happens once Hogan and another KPF get out on the field at the same time.

If you think he won't cop heaps of pressure at another club, you're wrong. Going to another club will intensify the attention on him, supporters of said club will complain if he doesn't perform, as no doubt he'll go to the highest bidder and get paid well. Supporters of rival clubs and Melbourne supporters will be very unkind to him for defecting in the face of everything we've done for him. Leaving to another club might give him the fresh start he desires, but it absolutely will not reduce the pressure on him. Melbourne supporters are much more likely to be understanding if he struggles for form, than any other club that presumably has done their due diligence on him and chose to pay him overs.

I think there's a distinct lack of class in those who openly doubt Clark, and a propensity to be blinded by their allegiances. The situation at its most basic, with emotion removed: - one of the best 3 players at a poor club with great expectations placed upon him, also due to his salary - attempting to make a longshot recovery from clinical depression and chronic niggling soft tissue injuries - the opportunity to go to a club where he won't be expected to drag it out of the mire - being somewhere the focus will be on many others to perform and the pressure of winning won't be placed upon him - he's a bloke suffering from depression trying to get his life back on track and probably would have expected more compassion, and dare I say it, he may have got that at a club where the supporters weren't so chronically tormented - also hasn't made any statement about jumping ship, but is being roundly criticised based on conjecture - has not tried to jump ship leaving MFC with nothing, and would presumably be keen to ensure we get fair compensation, or would have been before the tide of vitriol from shallow thinkers

As soon as he pulls on a MFC jumper he is transformed ET.Will be instantly a wonderful guy

Regarding the OPs 2nd point, I think the key is we aren't rebuilding for a premiership. We are building a club for the next 5 years, a club that will be competitive again. The one we are back on board with culture and competitiveness, we will start the "rebuild" for a premiership using youth and free agency to build a premiership list. That's how far away we are. But it is the only way we can progress. We've seen that drafting raw talent into our club hasn't been working.

Football is an emotional game with ongoing demands and moments of extreme pressure. Managing and coping with injuries is part of the challenge most players face. Fans are encouraged by club and players alike to get emotionally attached to the team and the players. Players play this game with many activities from PR, signing balls to connecting and celebrating with the crowd when they score. Mitch Clark bought into this fan seduction game totally, No# 11 on his back, leader of club, face of hope at the MFC... He then struggled with injuries and then the black dog bit. The fans and club gathered sympathetically around him and supported him, even to the point of accepting he was lost to us and the game. For Mitch to come back and easily disavow himself of these emotional ties and obligations was naive and ill-advised. He does not owe the public an explanation, he owes those who's support he lent on (and it seems led on) these past couple of years an explanation. The lack of such an honest explanation created the space for us to assume the worst and project these fears with anger onto Mitch. Agree many should tone it down, but it's hardly a surprise, and Mitch needs to bear a fair amount of responsibility for the hurt he's generated (generating).

The comedian ? Haven't we already got enough of those on our list ?

Nutbean I have got to the point that I don't care any longer. We paid him $2+million for a hand full of games then he retires from the game not just the MFC. At that point I said to myself dam in March but lets get on with life. Now he announces he wants to start again and Probably elsewhere. This is a guy with a very suspect body and mind. Put our offer to him ( modest I hope ) if he does not want to stay then extract the max. trading value. But whatever happens MFC please please Play hard ball if it comes to him playing elsewhere.

Unless they are a complete spud, which Gwilt clearly isn't, I refuse to write them off simply because Roos has a history of taking recycled players and turning them into guys who play their role and have a very positive impact on the side. If Roos thinks Gwilt can improve our list then I don't have any complaints.

Firstly, Heritier will be at Melbourne next year. Secondly, this guy is exactly what we need. Hard trainer, Line breaker, experienced, premiership player, All Australian. Granted he has some different beliefs, but that's what clubs are all about. Roos is a different beast to Nathan 'FIGJAM' Buckley. He's there to play FOOTBALL and help us WIN games.

Like Silvia, Moloney.....Rivers has been serviceable, Petterd borderline, Martin a good 2nd half of the season. So who are these players that have starred at another club?

Hopefully his old mate Barry Prendergast is putting in a good word for him. (second rounder will do, thanks Barry)

Thank you Dom Tyson for 2014.

Uber Alex Georgiou ‏@UberAGeorgiou 11m Roosy said every player was on the trade table so I asked him what I was worth. His answer was: "Who the hell r u & get out of my office!"

devastated

Imagine if Mitch was a Collingwood player, retired and then said he wanted to go to another club, just imagine what Eddie would do.

I agree, and all opinions are not created equal.

Are you after realistic ones or absolutely silly ones like Dangerfield, Sloane and Tex Walker for Pick 2, Pick 3 and Jimmy Toumpas?

Agreed. Almost ANYONE that we can get will basically improve us.

The more interest in MC the better it is for us when it comes to a trade. Bring it on.

It seems to me that just as Roos has said any of our players are tradeable, he is prepared to talk to anyone who may be on the move. I like the idea that he is talking to anyone possibly on the move, simply because that means he is informed as can be when it comes to making actual decisions about trades and so forth.

Whenever I am tempted to dismiss a running defender out of hand, I remind myself that Dean Terlich spent a considerable amount of time playing that role for us this year.

It's the old story of "You take yourself wherever you go".

Sounds a bit like the letters to Santa that my kids used to write ... IMHO, completely unrealistic given that a) the players who do that can be counted on one hand and b) they're not going anywhere. Look at last year's trading: was considered a success, yet there were plenty here railing against taking "cast-offs" like Cross (over the hill), Vince (Sylvia mark 2/party boy/bad influence in the locker rooms), and Tyson (can't even get on the field) etc. etc. Look at the difference they made (thank god). Lumumba is a walk-up start in a decent team - as he has been for a number of years under 2 different coaches, one of whom at least doesn't suffer fools - is apparently a dedicated and committed trainer and athlete, and would be an improvement on almost everyone we currently have in his on-field position. But no, he's not perfect. For that, you'd need Santa to come early. Along with the tooth fairy and easter bunny.

As far as I can tell from the rumour, innuendo and "sources" being fed to us thus far it goes something like this: Mitch was working out with Melbourne staff to get himself back in shape with the intention of returning to our list After the season formalities were discussed and a modest offer presented to Mitch's camp Mitch and Manager were dismayed at the less than impressive offer on the table and decided to fish around for more at other clubs Melbourne management feel justifiably slighted by what they consider a betrayal after the efforts they have put in and are making noises about the door being that way... The questions now are whether it's all a storm in a teacup, what the other clubs are willing to offer him above what we did, and whether Mitch will decide that integrity is more important and stick with the sensible offer from Melbourne vs a better but possibly less reasonable offer from elsewhere (read Bombers and Pies).

Kent also has tons of courage, is a good mark and works hard for his teammates. He may not have the out and out pace of Blease, but I'll take him every time.

Surely not a swap for Robinson. Please god no!

He might not have been the classical footballer and every once in a while was guilty of committing the most frustrating and shocking error that would cost us a goal and he often looked clumsy but he always gave an honest effort on the football field. On that score he's ahead of many modern day players and we all know who they are. Congratulations ~ its a tough gig you've got there and I'm sure you'll dedicate yourself to it 100%.

Jonesy daughter - father/daughter 2032....

My whole point is he isn't an upgrade. He's a stalwart at a good club (that didn't make the 8) and was once an All Australian defender (in an era when AA defender selections rarely take into account actual defending ability). People see him break the lines and kick the odd goal from 50. Is he an upgrade on: Dunn? No. McDonald? No. Jetta? No. Garland? On this years form anyone is. At their best I'd take Garland. Howe? Not sure, but it would let him go forward and take hangers of H's moon balls. Terlich? Absolutely. (We'll assume Frawley has f_ed off) EDIT: I forgot Grimes. Better defender, courage and presumably a better leader. I'd prefer Lumumba with ball in hand. I think Collingwood would prefer Grimes on their list. So he's definitely better than Terlich. What a pick up. Roos doesn't like forwards that don't defend, I fail to see why he wants a defender that can't defend. And I'm not exaggerating, he plays loose to begin with, and one on one he's terrible. I don't know of possible better recruits that are available other than possibly Malceski. I'm just commenting on Lumumba because he is available and likely, and I know enough about him to hate the idea of recruiting him.

Fark where do we sign??!!

Robinson may be an OK player, but is a rubbish human. Please PLEASE don't bring him to our club. He makes me physically ill and we don't need the trouble he brings. Not remotely a good enough player to turn a blind eye to that sort of stuff.

It's quite likely Roos sees him as too big a risk, The AFL wont let him walk to any club he wants. Trading will have to be done We have pick 2 Frawley gives us pick 3 Clark will either play for us or we'll trade him to another club Pick around number 15 If we go into the draft/trading period with picks 2,3,15,20 then we are every chance to land 2 excellent midfielders, a half back and a key big man such as Frost. Personally for the first time in years I feel the club is well enough managed to do very well out of the coming 2 drafts and start to push up the ladder Just not sure I care anyway.

I like this x 2 Sorry Mitch ...its now about us, not you . We have already given you that time.

Lol these posters who say next or pass over each name as they come up. We are the laughing stock of the AFL with a terrible rebounding defence full of turn over merchants. Not saying I want Gwilt necessarily, don't know enough about him, but I fully back Roos and team to look at every possibility. If they go for Gwilt, there must be something in him that'll improve our list going forward.

Why not? I would trade blease for Robinson. Basically we get Robinson for nothing as we would be delisting blease anyway.

You're saying we couldn't use "a decent rebounder"???

If you have criticisms of the guy's football skills, fine. But if you don't want this guy at our club because he has stuck his head out over a couple of things that are important to him, then get (censored). If you think everything is great and the world doesn't need changing in a lot of ways you are either wilfully ignorant or just ignorant. We need more people like him, not less. I haven't seen enough of his footy recently to make a call on it, but it's just sick to see so many posters can't accept anyone who isn't a conformist sycophant at their team.

Watching Kent square it up twice against the Roos, cemented Kent's spot and made the decision on Blease very clear (if there was any doubt).

He'll come on next year, just like sylvia...

Those saying that none of our defenders can kick so he'll fit in or be an upgrade on what we already have, is that really what you will settle for? I'd like to think we're all sick of limited players. I watch every Collingwood game, usually with my best mate who is a Pies supporter, and I see the Lumumba frustration every week. This year particularly, he gets the ball, but what comes next is highly predictable. We all grew tired of Moloney's get ball boot ball style, this is no different, apart from the dash at the start. This isn't like adding Cross and Vince, we had no midfield, they are pure midfield accumulators and were much needed. We need half backs that can run, carry and most importantly hit a target consistently. Someone that sets up play off half back, not someone that simply offers relief for 25 seconds. I saw the excitement in Paul Roos when discussing H on 360 so I'm resigned to the fact that its likely he's on his way here. I'm just putting it out there that I strongly believe this is not what our back line needs, and hopefully we do get what we need somewhere else, and Lumumba plays on the wing and bombs at goal from 50. In Roos I trust, I 'spose.

Could Wagner replace Strauss?

Shafted in the 22 under 22 side. Suffered the same fate as Chunk in being ineligible as a Melbourne player.