Clark’s relationship with the Lions has remained strong over the past month, despite requesting a trade back home at the end of 2011 season.
“There’s been no fallout between Mitch and the Club or anyone at the Club, and he has continued to talk regularly with Michael Voss,” Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr told SEN this morning.
“Mitch wanted to get home for a variety of reasons.”
“He told us his preference was to simply go home. He didn’t indicate there was one club over another, with respect to the West Australian clubs (Fremantle and West Coast).”
But now, with the potential deal stalled, Kerr believed that there was a “reasonable possibility” that nothing will be finalised before next Monday’s deadline.
“We are planning to talk with Fremantle today and will continue to talk with West Coast,” he said.
“Hopefully now we can move forward in a more fruitful manner.”
Meanwhile, Clark's manager Colin Young said he was growing increasingly concerned a deal with Fremantle was not going to happen this week.
He also said Clark could opt to enter the NAB AFL Pre-season Draft in December if a trade didn't come up before Monday's deadline.
"The draft has been compromised and unfortunately Brisbane deserves a top-10 pick but they probably won't get it if Fremantle can't negotiate down," Young told afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio.
"That's just the nature of the beast and so they're going to have to accept, if it's pick 16 and something else, they're going to have to accept that.”
"That's unfortunate because they probably do deserve a top 10 pick and something extra but unfortunately I can't see that happening.”
"I think at the end of the day come Monday, if it's not done, you'd rather get at least pick 16 than nothing."
Young said his client could be willing to try his luck in the December draft in his bid to make his way home to his native state of Western Australia.
"I spoke to Mitchell last night because he'd had phone calls from both parties regarding the trade, and he's having a think about that today, so his options are pretty well known," he said.
"The Lions will try and attempt to keep him or he'll enter the pre-season draft."
Sydney’s Ryan O’Keefe is a recent example of a player who demanded a trade back home, only to have it not eventuate.
As it turned out, O’Keefe stayed with the Swans and won their Best and Fairest award the following year.
