Star Demon Mitch Clark ruled out for 6-8 weeks with a foot problem Mitch Clarke gets helped off the ground. MITCH Clark needs another operation on his foot which will rule him out for two months in another major blow to Melbourne. The power forward will have a screw removed from his right foot, sidelining him out for 6-8 weeks. Clark lined up in the Round 4 win against GWS but withdrew ahead of Sunday's loss to the Brisbane Lions. Dees football manager Josh Mahoney said the timing was right to get Clark fit, which would allow him greater freedom for the second half of 2013. "While his lisfranc repair is strong and stable, other issues around his foot have contributed to this decision," he said. While this is obviously disappointing for Mitch, and any operation during the season is not ideal, the benefit is that after Mitch recovers he will be able to play the second half of the year and begin pre-season without any further interruptions. Clark broke down with a lisfranc tear last year, which sidelined him from Round 13 onwards. But in a boost to the Dees, spearhead Chris Dawes is over his hamstring troubles and ready to return. Dawes booted two goals for Casey on Saturday night.