MELBOURNE recruit Mitch Clark admits he would prefer to settle in one position rather than being thrown around the ground as he prepares to embark on his first season with the Demons.

Clark was the biggest name to swap clubs during trade week. The Demons swapped pick No.12 with the Lions to secure the 24-year-old. In six seasons up north Clark played 82 games and kicked 61 goals.

He said he learned valuable lessons playing inside 50 alongside Jonathan Brown (210 games and 498 goals with Brisbane) and Daniel Bradshaw (221/496 with Brisbane and 9/28 with the Swans).

Now he has the chance to put those lessons into practice.

"I like to play in a position for 90 per cent of the game," said Clark in a pre-season interview with The Melbourne Football Club's Season Guide. "I'm probably a bit old-fashioned in that way where I would prefer to be settled in one position and go head to head with my opponent."

While debate continues to rage about the value of his teammate Jack Watts (the Demons' No.1 draft pick from 2008), Clark expressed enthusiasm for playing alongside the youngster in the forward half.

"I feel like we have a good mix in the forward line, a lot of different types of players who can play a variety of roles," said Clark. "Hopefully we can create a good mix and create a bit of havoc."

The club is keeping the expectations realistic. Assistant coach Leigh Brown described Clark as young and raw, a player who was still learning and developing how to play forward. "The output offensively will be dictated by what he does defensively," said Brown.

Although Clark's best season so far was in 2009 when he played in the ruck and finished third in the Lions' best and fairest, Clark has been recruited as a forward. He hopes his forays in the ruck will be limited although he will have no problem if asked to fill the role from time to time.

Clark said it wasn't an easy decision to join the Demons, particularly when the expectation was that he would return to Perth where he grew up.

He described himself as a loyal type of guy who wants to do the right thing but once the offer from Melbourne came up he decided it was the best one for him and his immediate family. Clark also has a brother, Dean, living in Melbourne.

However, when the fixture came out he looked at opportunities to see his family in Perth.

"We get there in round 2 (against the West Coast Eagles) and the last round of the season anyway (round 22 v Fremantle)," said Clark. "I'm not too far from Perth so I'm sure Mum and Dad can duck over here and watch a couple of games as well."

In the meantime, Melbourne has welcomed him with open arms.

In December, Jim Stynes awarded Clark his famous No.11 jumper and in February Clark was elevated to the club's new-look leadership group.

In the interview recorded in January, Clark spoke of being 'starstruck' when he first met Stynes - who died on March 20, aged 45 - and how privileged he was to wear the jumper. "If I can have half the crack that Jim did during his career I’m sure I’ll go all right," said Clark.

His connection with Stynes was clear to everyone when he became emotional as he tried to speak at a press conference held on the day Stynes died.

Now the footy is about the start and Clark has impressed in the pre-season. On Monday teammate Nathan Jones enthused about Clark's impact up forward.

"He is a strong, tough, big presence up forward," said Jones. "What has amazed me since he came along is how agile and competitive he is when the ball actually hits the ground."

Everything points to Clark fulfilling his pre-season ambition before he has even hit the ground. "The first thing was fitting in with the group and gaining the respect of my teammates," he said.

Peter Ryan is a reporter for AFL Media. You can follow him on Twitter @AFL_petryan He interviewed Mitch Clark for the Melbourne Magazine.