Mitch Clark - would you do it?

[LongWait]

We'd have to check him out, surely. If Mitch is over his foot problems he would be a huge upgrade up forward over anyone we have now. Clark is All Australian quality at his best.

[boydogs]

Maybe it was a family issue, does anyone know the exact problem?

Weight of expectation with the big money deal and trade from Brisbane, then feelings of guilt when getting injured repeatedly and not building form & fitness to contribute like he wanted to.

If he's feeling better I would be very interested.

[Topdog]

Mitch Clark may be available as a delisted free agent.

Rumour has it he is back in training and hoping for a fresh start. What's your verdict, Should we have a crack?

Where did you hear this? His only public interview was about 2 months ago and footy seemed a very long way from his mind.

I think he should stay away.

[EasternWest]

Why not if he is mentally up to it.

Yep totally agree.

What I liked most about him at Melbourne was that he played like he was completely committed to the cause. No high paid primadonna antics.

[bulldogtragic]

Sometimes a fresh start is what we all need. Mitch seemed from some reporting to be struggling with expectation and the pressure of money and media. If he has reconciled those matters, or just needed a circuit breaker, then there's no real concern for mine. Nathan Thompson was is a similar position and was very good at his second AFL club. If he's fit, he's easily, easily, easily best 22 in our team and with our kids taking the media, if the reporting is right, we might just be a good fit. He'd be a great ambassador for our men's health program too.

[The Underdog]

If he feels ready to come back to elite level football then I would for sure, although his inability to stay on the park in recent years is an issue. I'd love him in our forward line as a point of difference though.
If he did come back I'd expect him to go back to the Dees or home to WA.

[craigsahibee]

No way. Too fragile in mind and body. Not worth the risk.

[Remi Moses]

Not for me either

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Nope from me too.

His body has failed him for a few years now, and they've been serious injuries.

If he was to return, from a mental aspect, I can only see it working in Perth.

[Greystache]

No way. Too fragile in mind and body. Not worth the risk.

Agree. I could see us wasting time and resources for no return. No thanks.

[LostDoggy]

Go home factor, constant foot injuries, head injuries, mental issues.

No.

[Sedat]

We'd have to check him out, surely. If Mitch is over his foot problems he would be a huge upgrade up forward over anyone we have now. Clark is All Australian quality at his best.

Yep, would do it in a heartbeat if his foot problems are 100% rectified and he is managing his depression well. it would also be some sort of poetic justice to nab a player of Clark's ability from Melbourne for no compensation back to Melbourne.

[1eyedog]

I still think we need to focus on a GWS tall around the 20 year old mark (Jaksch / would love McCarthy) rather than an injury prone 26 year old suffering from a mental illness. I would think Clark is very interested in the 900k that was splashed around re. Patton but that money would be better spent luring a good young player from one of the franchises and developing one of Talia / Roberts down back.

Clark will be 27 in two months and our window won't be open until 2017 making him 29-30 which will see him declining when our window opens. No from me.

[Sedat]

Clark will be 27 in two months and our window won't be open until 2017 making him 29-30 which will see him declining when our window opens. No from me.

His odometer doesn't have many kms on the clock so his age is not a concern for me at all. Assuming his foot injury is 100% healed and he is in a good space mentally to cope with the rigours of AFL, I can see him having an Alastair Lynch type career well into his 30's. One thing not in dispute is that he is very talented - I like talented players who have proven themselves at the caper.

[1eyedog]

I like talented players who have proven themselves at the caper.

Me too - when they can get on the park. He's been injury-riddled since his first year in 2006(?) including osteitis pubis followed up by a number of bad quad injuries, shoulders and more recently feet. The problem is all his injuries have been fairly long-term so when he goes down he goes down big time. He is a very good player and what we need yes but he will want top coin and is too high risk given his spate of injuries. Under 100 games in 9 years says it all to me. He's a Tom Williams with talent.