MELBOURNE-listed forwardMitch Clark has nominated Geelong as his preferred club as he seeks to reignitehis AFL career in 2015.
The Cats and Collingwoodwere the last two clubs in the race to secure the 26-year-old, with Clarkspending time in Geelong at the weekend as he made his choice.
The tall forwardnegotiated his exit from Melbourne in April this year, retiring after he wasdiagnosed with clinical depression, and he is seeking a fresh start at a newclub.
AFL.com.au has confirmed he nominated the Cats as hispreferred destination on Tuesday.
Melbourne’s manager offootball operations Josh Mahoney said the Demons accepted Clark’s decision.
“We understand Mitch'sposition, he has indicated that Geelong would be his preferred club and that hewould like us to get the best deal available for him,” he told AFL.com.au.
“We will work withGeelong on what that deal looks like in the coming days.”
The move rules out adirect swap for Magpie Heritier Lumumba, who was linked to the Demons in a swapfor Clark.
Cats football manager Neil Balme said the clubwas delighted Clark had chosen Geelong as his favoured home.
"He has said that he wants to come, sowe've got a bit of work to do now," Balme told NAB AFL Trade Radio onTuesday afternoon.
"But we're certainly pleased with thatoutcome."
Balme admittedthere was risk involved with bringing Clark into the club, considering hisinjury and mental illness history.
But the Cats were confident they would be ableto "mitigate" those risks.
"We're very confident (in Clark's foot).We've got our own people who we've spoken to and they're confident it won't bea long-term problem," Balme said.
Balme also confirmed the Cats were hoping toaccommodate Melbourne’s unrestricted free agent James Frawley onto their listin addition to signing Clark.
The race for Frawley is believed to be betweenthe Cats and reigning premiers Hawthorn, with Fremantle a distant third.
The All Australian defender is yet to tell theDemons he wants out, but it is widely expected he will not be playing atMelbourne in 2015.
Balme also said Geelong would look at itsoptions in relation to midfielder Taylor Hunt in the upcoming NAB AFL TradePeriod.
"He may not have to go," Balme said.
"But he may well find somewhere to gothat better suits him, so we'll see what happens in the trade period."