FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Saturday, October 15, 2011

Herald Sun

Clark derails bid to lure star
By Scott Gullan and Jon Ralph

MITCH Clark's refusal to move to Melbourne has derailed Brisbane Lions' audacious bid to land Adelaide star Kurt Tippett. Despite an impressive pitch by new Demons coach Mark Neeld, who spent the past two days talking with Clark in Brisbane, the Lions ruckman decided for family reasons to re-affirm his desire to play with Fremantle. Brisbane has been working behind the scenes with the Crows to lure Tippett home to Queensland. If Clark had chosen Melbourne the Lions would have received the Demons' first-round selection, No. 12, which they would have packaged up with their own pick, No. 8, and sent it to the Crows. This was likely to be enough to land Tippett, who is contracted for next year but has made no secret of his desire to return home. The problem for the Lions is that Fremantle's offer is its first round pick, No. 16, which is not enough to get the deal done.

The Age

Lions may get compensation if Clark walks
By Jake Niall and Michael Gleeson

MITCH Clark's preference remains to be with Fremantle, not Melbourne, but the Brisbane Lions believe they can still gain compensation for the follower/forward if he walks into the pre-season draft, as threatened, if Fremantle cannot come to terms on a trade. Melbourne is a more than interested spectator in the dealings, having launched a massive four-year offer for Clark, who yesterday released a statement saying he had ''a strong desire'' to be traded to Fremantle and return to his home state, despite the ''highly attractive'' offer by the Demons - believed to comfortably top $2 million over four years, compared to Freo's estimated $1.5 million over three years. Clark said he was ''firmly committed'' to nominating for the pre-season draft for uncontracted and delisted players if a trade wasn't arranged with the Dockers. In the normal course of events, when a player nominates for the pre-season draft, the club that loses him receives no compensation at all, which is why players and managers routinely threaten this in an attempt to get to their preferred club in a trade. But the rules governing Greater Western Sydney's entry into the competition contain a twist that both the Lions and Melbourne believe favour them in the battle for Clark. The Demons checked with the AFL administration yesterday and confirmed that Brisbane would be entitled to a compensation pick if Clark entered the draft and was selected by GWS - which has the first pick in the draft.

The Australian

Clark says Freo or bust
By Courtney Walsh

NEGOTIATIONS on Mitch Clark, the biggest name up for trade this year, remain at an impasse despite a firm declaration yesterday that he is committed to returning to Perth. The Dockers took the unusual step of issuing a statement quoting the current Brisbane player at length. Clark said he was pleased to be sought by Melbourne, which offered a four-year deal reportedly worth $2.2 million but Fremantle remained his preference for family reasons. "I've been saying for quite some time now that I want to return home to WA and play for Fremantle," he said. "Despite the highly attractive offer Melbourne have put on the table, I remain firmly committed to returning to Perth to be with my family and to signing with Freo. "I'm really grateful for the interest shown by Melbourne and the way they've gone about the negotiations but my strong desire is that Brisbane and Fremantle are able to reach an agreement that will allow me to return home."