Sport can be a cruel thing. We all love sport here at The Roar. It’s fair to say that it’s a major part of all of our lives. That’s why I’m here, writing this article.
And that’s why we have such educated and well informed columnists and general observers of Australian and world sport coming together to have their say on a wide range of issues, opinions and news stories.
But one of the things we don’t like to see is such a promising, hard-working sportsman or sportswoman missing from their respective sport as a result of a bad injury.
I speak of Melbourne’s Mitch Clark.
I will admit I was one of the sceptics of Mitch at the start of the year.
I wondered why Melbourne would pay $750,000 a year for a player who was a seemingly run-of-the-mill forward/ruckman playing for a team which finished 15th last season. I thought, sure Mitch may be a competent player, but is he really worth that much?
I happily admit that I was wrong. He is worth every cent.
I, like many other people, looked at the Buddy Franklins and Jack Riewoldts of the competition.
I forgot the simple principle that for the majority of the time, a forward is only as influential on the scoreboard as his midfield brigade is at delivering the football.
Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin assist in Tiger Jack’s big presence up forward. As a forward, you have a far greater opportunity to be a prolific goal-scorer when you have these types of players smoothly kicking it to you lace out as opposed to a few very capable, but inexperienced young players struggling under pressure or having the inability to kick accurately to a leading forward in space.
The next time you watch Buddy Franklin play, have a look at the quality of the delivery from his team-mates and you’ll soon understand what I’m talking about.
Compare that to the delivery Mitch Clark received for the majority of last year, and you’ll see the correlation between a successful forward teaming with a skilled midfield and a skilled forward not reaching his full potential due to an inexperienced midfield.
Last season, Clark spent time in between the ruck and the forward line and seemed a bit lost. He seemed like he didn’t have a specific role.
When Clark started his career, he was regularly getting 30-plus hit-outs per match, but the potential for Clark to become a power-forward, with strong agility and aerobic ability, the marking skills akin to that of Jonathon Brown and also a very capable set shot at goal was a quintessential necessity for Brisbane to rise up the ladder.
Slowly over time, Mitch has been transformed from a ruckman occasionally having a break in the forward line to a power-forward occasionally providing relief in the ruck.
We saw glimpses of this potential last season and saw the potential come to fruition in spades this season.
In eleven games, Clark has booted twenty-nine goals in an underwhelming and struggling Melbourne side.
He has defied the principle that a forward is only as good as his midfield brigade.
Every time the ball enters Melbourne’s forward 50, Mitch Clark does something.
He has come into a club in which times are difficult and has given his team-mates the confidence in their ability to challenge sides.
In seven months, Mitch Clark has done more for the Demons than any other Melbourne forward has done for probably the past five years.
He epitomises hard work and leadership.
Every Demons supporter should be extremely thankful that Melbourne recruiters delved deep into the bank account and saw what no-one else did: A genuine superstar with superior ability in every facet of forward line play.
Unfortunately, Mitch has been ruled out of the game for the remainder of the season due to a bad foot injury.
Not only is it bad for Mitch himself, it also places significant adversity on the Demons, for they lose their most impressive player for the year, someone who is a fantastic on-field leader and the general of the Melbourne forward line.
Indeed, sport can be a cruel thing.
I believe Mitch Clark has the ability to be a genuine great of the game, and there’s no doubt he’ll come back better than ever next season.
Not worth the money? I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Eddie
Guest
I remember reading at the time that Clark was initially going to Fremantle, but a close relative (maybe his mother?) was diagnosed with cancer - as a family they made a decision for Clark to take the money offered by the Dees. Hospitals are expensive. I think it was a very brave decision to make that call.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I also thought Melbourne overpaid for Clark. I was wrong too.
Rodney Penny
Roar Pro
Brisbane probably came off worse for wear, I think we can all agree. Pick 12 got them Sam Docherty who's yet to play a game. He could be a good player, who knows. But they also got Billy Longer at pick 8, who I'm sure will be a fantastic player. I also didn't like the way Mitch handled the trade negotiations last year. He did seek a trade home and then went for the big dollars somewhere else. Probably not the best way to handle yourself as an elite sportsperson. Maybe he wasn't happy at Brisbane, you don't know. Maybe his poor attitude on field was a reflection of what was going on off it. I don't see why he moved to Melbourne and not back to Western Australia apart from the money. Brisbane are a far better side than Melbourne. But irrespective of what happened last year, he's been nothing short of outstanding this season.
TomC
Roar Guru
To be honest, by the end of last season I was sick of Clark and his lack of effort. By the end, you could see him standing stock still in the forwardline pointedly refusing to lead up the ground. I don't want him back at Brisbane, but I do think he could have shown some profesionalism in his last year at the club, both on the field and in trying to get himself traded to his home state.
TomC
Roar Guru
The thing is, it doesn't actually happen that often. And when it does, there's normally some kind of relatively even deal. Geelong and Melbourne were compensated for the loss of Ablett and Scully with two first round draft picks in the year of their choosing. The Eagles got picks 3, 20 and Josh Kennedy in exchange for Chris Judd. The Lions got pick 12 in a compromised draft after Clark had actively worked with Fremantle to undermine Brisbane's trading position, before taking the money at Melbourne after all.
Rodney Penny
Roar Pro
I get where you're coming from. Actually, late last season, Mitch was undergoing surgery on his knee and then he left not long after. Surgery is pretty pricey, so that wouldn't have pleased Brisbane. But the thing is it's commonplace for players in the modern era to be developed by their club and then move to another club just before they hit their peak performance. Gary Ablett, Tom Scully, Chris Judd just to name a few. We get annoyed at players who chase the dollars and "abandon" the club that spent so much time, effort and money on developing these players. But that's because the Australian Football League is one of the most loyal competitions in the world. You always see one-club players, and the majority of AFL players don't play for more than two clubs over their career. Soccer players change clubs all the time, particularly in Europe, so we're pretty lucky to still have a lot of loyalty in our game. I know it's frustrating for Brisbane supporters. But sometimes these things happen, and it's unfortunate. But a club like Brisbane is going in the right direction. They'll be alright without Mitch Clark. I think Big Sauce Merrett has found a niche up forward anyway!
John D
Guest
TomC, I couldn't agree more. I would love him back at Brisbane now that Brownie is approaching retirement.
TomC
Roar Guru
The real losers are Brisbane, who drafted him and developed him, only for Clark to slap them in the face and force them to trade him.