FORMER Melbourne forward Mitch Clark has left the door open to a return to football as he recovers from depression.
Clark, 26, was forced to retire from the AFL in April after being diagnosed with clinical depression.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say I still miss footy," Clark told The Footy Show.
"Who knows what can happen, I'm 26, doing a bit of training now, (I have) obviously let myself go a little bit but (have been) doing a bit of training now and the body's feeling quite good."
Clark has remained in Melbourne as he deals with his battle – his friends, family and ex-teammates are providing ongoing support.
He admitted his life could have turned if he didn't quit football.
"It got to a fork in the road sort of moment where it was either 'I go this way or I keep going the way I'm going and who knows what's going to happen'," he said.
"It got pretty dark there, I've taken the different road and made the decision to get myself better and work with my doc, partner and family and people that are close to me.
"I'm very happy with the decision I've made. Obviously I miss the boys and miss the Melbourne footy club a little bit.
"But part of me getting better was stepping away from that (football club) and I feel as though I'm getting better.
"It's up and down, I have good days and bad. At the moment I'm having probably more good days than bad. I feel like I've gone over the hump and I'm getting better.
"(It's) still a short way through a long process but I'll take the positive of feeling quite good at the moment."
Clark was poached by Melbourne at the end of 2011 on a four-year deal, adding just 15 games to the 82 matches he played for the Brisbane Lions.
He suffered a fracture to the Lisfranc joint in his foot in 2012, an injury which flared again in 2013.
– including three hamstring injuries – Clark admitted the pressure to return became too much.
"It got to a point where after the injuries that I had this year, it was just a point of 'I have to get out of here and change something' and that's what I've done," he said.
"It's been well documented I was getting paid quite well at Melbourne, I felt quite guilty going there daily and picking up a pay cheque.
"I remember a training session, (I) pretty much had a bit of a breakdown after a session at the club.
"I felt quite ill to be honest, I felt no energy and got to a point where I did quite a hard session in the gym and got back to the changerooms and just didn't feel well at all.
"(I felt) quite light headed and stuff, I've never felt that way before, obviously I wasn't sleeping too well.
"That was probably the moment where I realised I need to stand up and be a man and go and talk to my doctor and sort it out."
Clark urged others dealing with depression to speak out.
"There's lots of people dealing with hard times, I'm no different to anyone else, I'm no worse off," he said.
"If anything, I'm better off that I've got this massive amount of support around me.
"If there anyone else dealing with it, speak up and go to seek help. Obviously do it in your own way but I think speaking about it is the first step to getting right."
People seeking help or information about depression can contact Lifeline on 131 114 www.lifeline.org.au or Beyondblue on 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au.
