Geelong hopes Mitch Clark and James Frawley can revitalise hopes of another premiership tilt

GEELONG is hopeful a raid on Melbourne duo Mitch Clark and James Frawley will help recharge the team for a tilt at next year’s premiership.

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GEELONG is hopeful a raid on Melbourne bookends Mitch Clark and James Frawley will help recharge the team for a tilt at next year’s premiership.

The Cats bowed out of this year’s final race in straight sets but have pulled off an aggressive 11th-hour move on Clark in a bid to solve its key forward-ruck problems.

Collingwood had strong interest in the 26-year-old but Clark knocked the Pies back on Tuesday, telling Geelong he wants to revive his career under coach Chris Scott next season.

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The Cats also remain in the race for Frawley to bolster its ageing backline ahead of the commencement of the AFL’s free agency period on Friday.

Melbourne wants pick No. 3 as free agency compensation for Frawley but Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann said on Tuesday the full-back did not warrant a choice that high.

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It is understood the Cats believe a second or third round draft pick would be a fair trade for Clark, who quit Melbourne this season due to serious mental health problems.

The Cats are happy with Clark’s recovery from his mental health issues and the foot injury that restricted him to 15 games in three seasons at Melbourne.

Mitch Clark takes a big mark against the Cats.

Clark suffered a lisfranc injury in 2012 and had further surgery last year to remove a screw. His return this season was complicated by soft-tissue setbacks.

Geelong football manager Neil Balme said the Cats saw significant upside in the mobile big man.

“There is obviously relatively significant risk there from his foot’s point of view and from his own general health point of view,” Balme told the Herald Sun.

“But we are pretty confident that he will be OK and he is very confident he is fine.

“It’s a matter of whether you give him a chance or not and we think it’s probably a reasonable chance to take.”

The Cats need another big man to partner Tom Hawkins in attack and help shoulder the ruck load with injury-plagued pair Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh.

Young tall Nathan Vardy is also on the comeback from a serious knee injury.

Balme said the Cats’ medical tests on Clark’s foot had been positive.

“A few clubs have done that and have come up with virtually the same answer that he should be fine,” Balme said.

“It would be better if he did not have the problem but they (medicos) are certainly not indicating that he will have a longer term problem at all.”

Clark was on about $750,000 a year at Melbourne but his wage could be cut by as much as half at Geelong.

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Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said the club would endeavour to secure a trade with Geelong in the October 6-16 exchange period.

“We understand Mitch’s position, he has indicated that Geelong would be his preferred club and that he would like us to get the best deal available for him,” Mahoney said.

“We will work with Geelong on what that deal looks like in the coming days.”

Originally published as Geelong hopes Mitch Clark and James Frawley can revitalise hopes of another premiership tilt