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Here is an update on Club plans. Finals and other goals repeated. From Patrick Smith http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/demons-plot-a-path-to-finals-footy-by-2016/story-e6frg6n6-1227260519589 My favourite part: "Jackson also confirmed he would head the club’s administration until at least the end of 2016 — tying in with senior coach Paul Roos’ tenure — and a year longer than he is contracted for." This certainly puts to bed the faux story a month ago about Bartlett going after Brian Cook etc etc. PJ gives a bit more stability and confidence to the club for a few more years! Couldn't be happier!!

Patience, my pets. Tonight was but a practice game. When Clark breaks down - and yes, he will break down, whether through the snap of a bone, tear of a muscle or rare venereal disease - I will be there with Internet heroics so fierce I may require a hand transplant. In the meantime, it's still March.

It could be summed up this way. MC signed a huge contract with us for 4 years. Got injured in the first year, again in the second and missed the third. Played a total of about 15 games in 3 years earning about $2m. May or may not have suffered from depression. Had recurring soft tissue injuries, after apparently getting over the primary injuries to his foot. Contract terminated and he was paid out but not delisted. Club may have offered a small contract for 2015. Manager fielded offers from firstly the Pies, who thought they had him and then the Cats. His girlfriend/wife is doing a medical course in Geelong. The Cats were a good side, better than us, who may have offered more than the Pies. Roos didn't fight to keep him and a trade was on the table. We got HL. Last night was a practice match, where he played on a smaller player Cheney and a Rookie. Half his goals were simple ones anyway. Not wrist slashing time at the moment. The rest will play out over the following year (s).

I don't really care what the reason is..i just wish it was made public because once again we have been shafted so a top side gets a gun and we are still down below sea level Mitch Clark getting a free ride at Geelong and James Hird still coaching Essendon is really testing my fabric towards the game I am amazed the media have accepted the Black Dog scenario...they are all happy for him... We lose a power forward without a word being said... Whole thing stinks. P.S. i hope some journalists are reading these threads because it is time the real stories were given air

Is it? People with expertise/experience in this sort of area pointed out early in the Clark saga that the usual recommendation was to confront the situation, not avoid it (especially when that situation was regarded as contributing to the depression in the first place). What seems to have made a few people suspicious is the appearance of anonymous 'medical advice' (from a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or just a GP?) about moving on from the 'situation' of the MFC (and what was the situation anyway and how is another football club any different?) Leaving aside the abuse of Clark by contributors here and elsewhere who wouldn't know depression if they fell over it, there's nothing that says someone can't be clinically depressed and a [censored] at the same time. Whether Clark is a demonstration of this I don't know and I don't care to speculate. But assertions from you about his condition, the supposed nature of medical advice he received and the purported 'common' position on handling depression don't hold any more sway here than any of the other posters claiming to know the 'true' story.

In a nutshell, forgetting whether he has an illness or not, it would be fair to say that most that are angry with MC on Demonland, are angry because he cost us pick 12, gave us 15 games for $2m and now looks likely to dominate with the Cats, when as a result of the limited output of 15 games for $2m, he should be dominating for 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.

What hurts more than anything is the pathetic compensation we got for him because of his so called "depression" that magically disappeared. No offense to Lamumba but an A grade power forward like Clark deserved a top 10 pick or a gun player. I hate him for screwing us. He is a thankless gutless weasel and I hope he never experiences any success.

He gamed the system. No one should be able to do what he did. If you retire you should be made to stand out of footy - whatever the reason. We got shafted by Darren Jarman because he refused to come to Mlebourne despite us drafting him. He stood out of footy for a year. The Dess scrambled to do a deal on Mitch so as to get something from eth debacle but there is no doubt Mitch gamed the system to get to the club of his choice. You are also conveniently ignoring his rhetoric through this - I love the club,, love the fans, I'm heartbroken blah blah blah...then he farks us. All his words are hollow and no wonder ppl here are peeved by it.

huh? when was the hun called a newspaper? always been a tabloid rag

Each and every one of you fine people had said something constructive here on the sad and sorry saga of Mitch Clark. The fact of the matter is and was, if you follow the chain of events carefully, that Mitch Clark NEVER WANTED TO PLAY FOR MELBOURNE. He only wanted the money, full stop. For starters, I have not seen, spoken to or otherwise, of any MFC or MCC member who supports Melbourne (and I am both a paid up MFC & MCC Member), that had any confidence in the accuracy of the Medical Report originally issued on Mitch Clark, and I can count a number of doctors amongst my MFC friends when meeting up year round in the Long Room. Question marks therefore hang over the Original Medical Report. Secondly, the fact that he did retire afterwards must surely have rung alarm bells down at that club of ours, as to what Clark's real intentions were, and that being, to leave Melbourne at the earliest opportunity, hoping and waiting in the meantime that A POWER CLUB, was there to do a deal and take him. THAT POWER CLUB came along in the form of GEELONG, who AFTER THEIR OWN DOCTORS CHECKED CLARK OVER - took him on, no further questions asked. What puzzles and annoys me most here is how quickly medical opinion can change when the condition of DEPRESSION is mentioned and also how slow Melbourne was in seeing this coming. Before, during and after all of this happened with Clark, Melbourne kept quiet about the whole thing, and gave the impression in the end, that they simply wanted to get rid off Clark. The AFL in the meantime, simply allowed the whole deal to go through without comment, after all, the transfer of a so-called POWER FORWARD transferring to A POWER CLUB, is right up the AFL's alley, isn't it ? Personally, I think Clark will break down, but not before he plays a few top games for Geelong, given how immaculately the ball will be supplied to him down there, in contrast to how it was supplied to him at Melbourne. The other issue on the Clark Saga is the issue of Clark's desire and determination to leave Melbourne and go to a club possessing a WINNING CULTURE. Put simply, Clark could hardly wait to leave Melbourne. .

I understand he needed to at least notionally retire. I understand he needed to change environment for a fresh start. He got a lot of help from people who were also under the pump, and a lot of help from a club that actually really needed him. In his circumstances, he's probably the luckiest depression sufferer in Australia. All I wanted back was a bit of candour and transparency. And maybe a little acknowledgement of his good fortune, with a nod to the hundreds of thousands of people who have depression and don't have anything like the cash, supportive employers and colleagues, in-house psychologists and compatible career choices that he has had. It all sits uneasily with me. Depression isn't a free pass to selfishness.

I may be cynical but i think Clark's depression was cured when he realised he had to play footy to make a living!

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!

Having depression doesn't absolve you from also having honour and behaving like a decent human being. It's a cop out. He screwed us so he can get more money and experience success. It was a low act. I wish him well off field, and good on him for coming forward. His depression is probably legitimate, his actions are not.

Which means it will be reported in the newspapers on April 1st. How will we know what's legit and what's been written as an April Fool's day prank?

And look how that's ended up so far. Hird's coaching tonight, the rump of the 34 under him continue to train out of the main season but are missing out on meaningless (in terms of results) NAB Challenge games under a "provisional suspension" in the hope of missing only two or three games if found guilty. Farce.

Here is hoping the Prince plays well and for 20 games a year for the next 5 years in a league that counts!

Senior assistant coach Simon Goodwin has the strong support of the club and will take over from senior coach Paul Roos in 2017, despite his involvement in Essendon’s supplement program. Thanks Jay Clark. It's the little things that bug me.

Wow, 60 points... This could be a great year if they cop the suspensions.

Mate.....Please.....This isn't a p1ssing contest.....I have been a jrn and senior member for the past 50 years......I bought memberships even though I couldn't get to games because I was playing or in later years working I am an MCC member so don't have to be a member of the footy club but still buy a full membership I cried as a lad when Barassi left So how about you get off your soapbox and get off the angry pills......You'll feel much better.

the difference between you and most of us is that you love the players more than you do the club. The club goes first. If anybody pulls a shifty on this club they go on my sh1tlist forever. Clark's shifty is one of the biggest in the history of the AFL and I really mean that. The idea that anyone could apologise for him is staggering to me. Have you stopped for a second to think how incredibly handy it would be to have a key forward of Coleman medal ability on our list right now? That could be worth who knows, 5 or 6 wins? Maybe more? What about having somebody for Hogan to come up alongside with? What's that worth? Given our precarious state of existence and urgent need to improve, this is a HUGE thing we have missed out on - if Clark had done the obvious, decent thing to do and rejoined us we would be deadset contenders for the finals and that is something all of us very much deserve after a decade of putting up with utter garbage - and we have missed out on not by bad luck but by the selfless actions of a despicable individual who has betrayed us all. It makes my blood boil every time I think about it.

Welcome to the boards. I don't think its that alone. It's more that "it's better for my health to go to a nother club, a winning club" That doesn't sit well with most people I believe. He has gamed the system and it's wrong. The fact he was also our most talented player also hurts. The fact that we have seen our most talented players over the years fall victim to some freakish things. (Jurrah, Jakovich, Tingay, Schwartz etc etc) also compunds the angst. Clark's reasoning never sat well with a lot of people here and so why they have some empathy for mental illness the line that was pedalled in the opening sentence sticks in the craw.

Cheers I had the inside scoop. Just working on the finer details will be done soon enough consider him signed. Credibility was on the line haha.

Wow curry your are being a dick Your are fighting a small argument with people but can't argue with someone putting4k into the club and not getting a phone call to renew Replying To a complaint with some signed stuff wtc is good customer service and is something the club does poorerly. This respect to a member is required Rather than a one way street which is the current situation Sadly this club should not be without criticism... I've realised that most people will accept this due to idolim but the afl but really looking at the industry it's very incestual environment... Whisper forty football players on a list develops a diverse ranges on off field talent that reality is that only hires it's own and they are not the cream of the crop despite what they are paid..Josh Maloney is a good is example he went from an assist coach to football manager but really he only knows the afl way of doing rhings... A real manger would confirm priorities and pull the football department up if it's not inline with the clubs goals but they don't know how to do that... The afl is it's own little beast but whilst I love the club for my own personal reasons and it relies on this passion to create its funds it's sadly struggling in any real world stuff and would struggle if it was a corporation that had to make money rather than just survive

At least we got the big "H" for Mitch Clark. It would've been ALOT worse if we lost Clark for nothing. Either way, I will be one of many Melbourne supporters booing Mitch Clark when we play Geelong. Adding Lumumba to our half back line and midfield will help us more in the long-run. Best to move on and not worry about Mitch Clark any more until we play Geelong. I'm over all the annoyance and frustration that Mitch Clark caused us. Time to look towards the future.

Lying gutless cockroach

What a [censored]. Retired my ar$e. I have the upmost respect for people that carry on with depression but this is beyond his illness. He chose to retire and walk out on us. See any dees players tweeting tonight saying congrats? Put money on him for the Coleman

Was disappointed to see Brayshaw not named but I now know why thanks to the Herald Sun "No.3 draft pick Angus Brayshaw was left out after signing a contract extension this week." Must be knackered after doing that. Good to see the club aren't going easy on the first year players in terms of training.

That was Sean Denham.

Don't think we did too much wrong. I said at the time he retired that we hadn't delisted him, so that if he ended up going elsewhere we could trade him. He did, we did, welcome HL. Alternatives are, he leaves for nothing, or stays retired. We did the best we could out of the MC manipulation.

Sounds like you need to start your own blog where you can say whatever you like about anyone you want. Call it curry and beer land and register it under your personal "real life" name. See how long you last..

What's Mitch Clark got to do with us taking Toumpas over Wines?

who are you and what have you done with Greg Denham

45,000 members is achievable in 2016, but for 2015, it is important we get as close to 40,000 as possible. Winning the first 2 games in 2015 is also achievable, which will go a long way to helping us reach 40,000 members.

Actually that is incorrect - if the facts spoke for themselves everyone would be on the same page. I think everyone has right to be upset/annoyed/disappointed that we have lost a potential Coleman medalist. By there is diverse opinion on the "facts" surrounding him leaving starting with him having depression, on the road to recovery and the doctor advising to him change environments - all the way through to his illness being bogus and its all a great rouse to get him out of our club ( and all manner of opinion in between). I actually believe Clarks story from beginning to end - with the big proviso that I don't agree with the professionals opinion that he needed to change clubs. He is either mentally fit enough to play footy or he isn't and if he is then examine our club environment which is better than it has looked in a decade. No reason to move clubs - then he needed to ask himself whether he owes us anything. He said on his retirement that he felt guilty about taking our money and not playing - there is an easy way to overcome that guilt I would have thought. Saty - on it being a professional sport - I don't have problem with that. I don't dislike Scully because he accepted a gazillion dollars to go to the GWS - I dislike like him because I have never heard a footballer stare down a camera and tell the lies he did. I don't dislike Rivers or Frawley - I don't begrudge Moloney going ( i do dislike his classless shot at Neeld being fired). But with Clark I believe the club went above and beyond the call to ensure we did the right thing by him and I was proud of the way the club handled it. According to a poster who purportedly knows stuff (GNF) Roos was livid when the comeback but not with us unfolded - I don't blame Roos for being livid. Rivers, Frawley and Moloney owed us nothing and they were well paid so their debt was pretty much squared away. I can't say the same about Clark

I have been reserved in my criticism as I have taken him at face value regarding his depression. I know of a few people who have suffered from this ailment and am close to a few professionals working in this area. Those trying to find a" one size fits all" in relation to depressive issues unfortunately have limited understanding of the problem itself. The one point of conjecture on all I have talked to is the requirement of a clean break from the club. Again I will take it at face value that his doctor recommended this. But the clean break from the environment from the few I have talked to is not from the club but from the pressure of the football industry itself. I can well understand that a doctor would recommend a clean break from the 2012/13 version of the club but the 2014/15 version ? There is also some validity to the opinion that it is better to be in a winning culture and realistically we will be mid table at best - but will the same doctor recommend that if the Cats are on the nose in the next couple of years that Mitch moves away from that environment as well ? To me the two criteria's for Mitch should have been - is it good for his well being to play football ? If the answer is yes then second question is - is the club a good environment for him to be in - MFC - 2012/13 absolutely not - MFC 2014 and onwards - I think the answer is yes. This is why am I disappointed in all that has happened.

I'm not worried. I agree that his credentials as a player don't guarantee success, but I think certain qualities of his will make him a very good senior coach. However, even being a very good senior coach does not guarantee anyone success.

Funny how Mitch got well enough just before the draft occured last year. Beautiful timing for Clark!! Far more than just the breed of Black Dog in this scenario.

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.

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...

Mitch Clark is a gun. His character's in issue, not his playing ability. Franklin and Clark are best full forwards in the comp IMO. He'll kill this year if he can stay fit and, off field, not be a completely self-obsessed [censored] end.

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

He'll get injured sooner or later. It's what he's done his whole career...

Makes me sick. What a complete c*nt.

Do the two have to be mutually exclusive? I would have hoped that the increased fitness levels lead to players feeling less fatigue during games and that would lead to a higher quality of disposals.

You will not be alone pant....

Brings me back to the next game against Geelong at Kardinia Park after 186. Our first goal was kicked by Clark after some fantastic solo scrambling and what ended up a miraculous goal by him. Not one team mate went up to congratulate him. Something smelled off even then.

That's good news imo, and so is this quote from the article: "Chief executive Peter Jackson is out of contract at season’s end but has also given assurances he will remain at the helm next year."

He's more potential that what he has actually put out there so far but if you don't rate Kent then I worry about who you do rate. He attacks the ball and the man, has speed and whilst he needs to tidy it up a bit he can kick.