Melbourne in the media: Friday
Find out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Friday, October 14, 2011
FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Friday, October 14, 2011
Herald Sun
Cashed-up Demons make move on Mitch
By Mark Stevens and Jon Ralph
MELBOURNE has shed its passive, penny-pinching image by launching a massive bid for Brisbane's Mitch Clark. Rumours the Demons were prepared to offer a four-year deal worth as much as $3.2 million swept the football world yesterday. The club moved quickly to play down the figures, but the offer is substantial - perhaps at least in the $600,000-a-season range. Clark had made it clear he wanted to be traded to Fremantle, but the offer is enough to make him waiver. Although the Dockers remain Clark's first priority, given he wanted to return to his home state Western Australia, his manager Colin Young indicated it could now be a line-ball decision.
The Age
Demons tempt Clark with offer
By Jake Niall
MITCH Clark is weighing up a massive four-year offer from Melbourne, which yesterday made a bold bid for the Brisbane follower/forward, outbidding Clark's long-preferred suitor Fremantle. A Melbourne contingent headed by new coach Mark Neeld yesterday flew to Brisbane and met Clark, offering the out-of-contract ruckman and forward a four-year deal believed to be worth in excess of $2 million. The Dockers are believed to have offered Clark about $1.5 million over three seasons, but sources say the Melbourne offer is superior, both in terms of money and length of contract. Clark remains ''committed'' to Fremantle, according to his management, but will reassess and consider the larger Melbourne offer.
The Australian
Demons leading race for Clark
By Greg Denham
FREMANTLE yesterday lost the front running for out-of-contract Brisbane forward/ruckman Mitch Clark, despite West Coast pulling out of the chase. Melbourne emerged from left field to put in a bid for Clark that last night suited the Lions and is understood to have Clark reconsidering his desire to relocate home to Western Australia. The Demons offered their first national draft selection (12), which is four places in front of the Dockers' best national draft swap position (16) they have so far put forward. Melbourne is understood to have offered Clark a four-year contract worth more than $2.2 million. Brisbane list manager Rob Kerr acknowledged that the Eagles were out of the running for Clark, and said the player was "re-thinking his position" about moving home. "Fremantle say that (16) is their best offer and we obviously prefer 12," Kerr said. "Mitch might have an offer too good to refuse from Melbourne, so Fremantle is not in the box seat at the moment." For the Dockers to challenge the Demons for Clark, who has the right to reject any trade, they will have to come up with a better package, by probably including their next-best draft selection, which is now pick No 20.