It isn't that they want you in melee range, it is that you are using melee focused indi-spells. They have Geo-spells for melee and indi-spells for mages. It's all in how you play.

And clubs aren't exactly weak if played right. Melee-WHMs can attest to this. Additionally in this respect, Indi-spells would be melee focused and Geo-spells for mages.