Mitch Clark Retires

Ricochet · April 08, 2014, 04:48:38 PM

Wow :o

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-04-08/clark-announces-his-retirement

Melbourne Football Club wishes to advise that Mitch Clark will be retiring from the AFL.

Mitch has informed the Club that he will be unable to commit to a full-time career due to his battle with mental illness.

Mitch's decision to retire is effective immediately.

Mitch has been battling a mental illness for the past 12 months and has been diagnosed with clinical depression.

Mitch was recruited to Melbourne in 2012 to play a key role in our forward line. Unfortunately Mitch incurred a long-term injury during his first year when he damaged his Lisfranc in Round 13, 2012. Since that point, Mitch battled a number of physical injuries, which limited his ability to play for the Melbourne Football Club.

Melbourne's Manager of Football Josh Mahoney said: "Mitch's health has been the priority in this situation and after assessing all potential options, Mitch decided it was best for him to retire from AFL Football. The Melbourne Football Club supports this decision."

"The Club has been supporting Mitch throughout his illness, providing the best resources to assist him in his rehabilitation. We will continue to support him throughout the next phase of his life."

Mitch Clark said: "I just want to say thank you to the Melbourne Football Club, firstly for giving me the chance to play for them and secondly for taking care of me during my time there."

"Everyone at the Club has been so supportive of me during some very challenging times, which I will always be appreciative of.

"Finally I want to say thank you to the players and members for being there for me. I'm sorry I wasn't out on the field more, but with my injuries, it just wasn't to be.

"I am very grateful for everything Melbourne has done for me. I will always consider myself a Melbourne player and a Melbourne person."

Toga · April 08, 2014, 04:55:01 PM

Wow, big news. I guess it was coming though. :-\

Would be very disappointing for Melbourne making such a huge investment in a player (probably close to $1M a season?) only to have him play 15 games for the club across a couple of years. I guess it is his decision to make and those mental demons would surely be playing a part in his ability to get on the field and feel fit to play, all the best to him for his next stage of life.

Jroo · April 08, 2014, 04:57:33 PM

So disappointing :(
First Garlett, now Clark, both very talented footballers.
I'm sure Melbourne fans would be upset about this, especially since they'll never get to see a forward line of Clark, Hogan and Dawes.

elephants · April 08, 2014, 04:58:06 PM

Quote from: Toga on April 08, 2014, 04:55:01 PM
Would be very disappointing for Melbourne making such a huge investment in a player (probably close to $1M a season?) only to have him play 15 games for the club across a couple of years. I guess it is his decision to make and those mental demons would surely be playing a part in his ability to get on the field and feel fit to play, all the best to him for his next stage of life.

No pun intended? :P

Terrible news for Clark and Melbourne. Mental health is an issue I feel pretty damn strongly about, hopefully things only improve from here for the bloke!

Rusty00 · April 08, 2014, 04:58:49 PM

Very sad situation indeed :(

Toga · April 08, 2014, 04:59:17 PM

Quote from: elephants on April 08, 2014, 04:58:06 PM
No pun intended? :P

Wasn't intended although I did think of that as I typed it :P

Nige · April 08, 2014, 05:03:36 PM

Extremely sad. :(

All the best to Mitch and I hope things improve.

Definitely feel for both him and the club, it's a situation nobody should go through.

RaisyDaisy · April 08, 2014, 05:14:30 PM

Sad news indeed. Depression is a serious condition that doesn't get enough attention or treated seriously enough

All the best to Mitch, his family and the MFC

Purple 77 · April 08, 2014, 05:26:03 PM

All the best Mitch. Make sure you get well. It's a shame we couldn't see more of you.

FYI he was on 750k a year, bit of a war chest I guess melb have now

Toga · April 08, 2014, 05:33:28 PM

Quote from: Purple 77 on April 08, 2014, 05:26:03 PM
FYI he was on 750k a year, bit of a war chest I guess melb have now

Will Melb have to pay out the remainder of his contract despite early retirement? Iirc it was a $3M, four year deal (2012-2015)...

Ziplock · April 08, 2014, 05:37:40 PM

Quote from: Toga on April 08, 2014, 05:33:28 PM
Quote from: Purple 77 on April 08, 2014, 05:26:03 PM
FYI he was on 750k a year, bit of a war chest I guess melb have now

Will Melb have to pay out the remainder of his contract despite early retirement? Iirc it was a $3M, four year deal (2012-2015)...

I don't think so, unless there was an explicit clause in his contract stating so.

Toga · April 08, 2014, 05:39:36 PM

Oh right well then that's good news for the club, would be pretty hard on them if they had to pay it out. I wasn't sure how it worked though because Brisbane had to pay out Brendan Fevola but that's probably a different scenario altogether?

nrich102 · April 08, 2014, 05:42:09 PM

Mitch :-\

Capper · April 08, 2014, 05:53:03 PM

Wow that is massive. Good luck to Mitch

Depression sucks but you can get through it.

Kick depression in the nuts Mitch

SydneyRox · April 08, 2014, 06:00:02 PM

Quote from: Toga on April 08, 2014, 05:33:28 PM
Quote from: Purple 77 on April 08, 2014, 05:26:03 PM
FYI he was on 750k a year, bit of a war chest I guess melb have now

Will Melb have to pay out the remainder of his contract despite early retirement? Iirc it was a $3M, four year deal (2012-2015)...

You would think Melb and the AFL have some duty of care and would have discussed how this all works. But cant see it going into the salary cap, so that means they will have some money to throw around. Frawley stays?