Mitch Clark

For the Canadian mixed martial artist, see Mitch Clarke.
Mitch Clark

Clark at Brisbane Lions training
in December 2008.
Personal information
Full name Mitchell Clark
Date of birth (1987-10-19) 19 October 1987
Original team(s) East Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft No. 9, 2005 National Draft
Height/Weight 200 cm / 103 kg
Position(s) Forward / Ruckman
Club information
Current club Geelong
Number 19
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2006–2011
2012–2014
2015–
Total		 Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
Geelong		 082 0(61)
015 0(36)
008 0(14)
105 (111)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2015 season.
Career highlights

Mitchell "Mitch" Clark (born 19 October 1987) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League. Previously he played for the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Football Club, before retiring briefly in 2014 due to mental illness and personal issues.

AFL career

Pre-AFL

Clark began his football career with East Fremantle in the Western Australian Football League.

Brisbane (2006-2011)

Although Clark was hit by meningococcal disease the week before the 2005 AFL Draft, Brisbane showed their strong interest, making him their first pick, the ninth player drafted across all clubs and presenting him with their number "1" guernsey; he later made a full recovery from his illness.[1] Clark made an impressive debut for the Brisbane Lions in the first round of the 2006 season against Geelong, converting his first mark and subsequent kick into a goal, but his debut season was significantly hampered by injury problems, in particular osteitis pubis,[2] and only ended up playing a total six games that season.

"He's going to be dangerous. Geez, you'd love to be able to run like that."

Jonathan Brown[3]

Clark played his first game for the 2007 season in round nine against Collingwood, after overcoming his injury problems. His five goals in that match earned him an AFL Rising Star nomination.[4] However, the promising return lasted only three weeks before Clark was hit by injury again, allowing him only one more game that season.

Even before the 2008 season began, Clark was already in injury strife, after injuring his quad during pre-season training.[2] Clark played his first game for 2008 in round seven against Geelong, and lost by 27 points after falling away in the last quarter. Clark kicked three goals in the process. He managed to string together twelve consecutive games for the season, but was sidelined for the remainder after the round 18 clash with North Melbourne, during which he injured his quads yet again.[2]

2009 turned out to be a breakthrough year for Clark. Season-ending injuries to Matthew Leuenberger and Jamie Charman resulted in Clark shouldering the Brisbane ruck duties for the majority of the season. Leaving his injury prone tendencies behind, Clark played in all 24 Brisbane Lions games including two finals. By the end of the season, Clark had gained acknowledgement as one the competition's elite mobile ruckmen, was rewarded by selection in the 40-man All-Australian squad, and was considered unlucky to miss out on selection in the final team.[5]

Melbourne Demons (2012-2014)

At the completion of the 2011 season Clark informed the Brisbane Lions he would not be renewing his contract with the club and that he desired a move home to Perth. Fremantle Dockers were close to signing the key position player but equivocated on compensation for the Lions, and Clark was eventually swayed by a significantly better offer from the Melbourne Demons, which also provided a better result for the Lions. He was given the number 11 guernsey at the Demons, made famous by Jim Stynes, who also presented it to him.[6]

Depression and return to the AFL

Clark announced his immediate retirement from football, due to clinical depression and personal issues. However, as of early September, speculation has mounted about a return to football at an alternative club. Collingwood was rumoured as a possible trade destination, in a transaction involving a direct trade with Collingwood's Heritier Lumumba. Reports surfaced, mid September that Clark had met with Collingwood officials and was utilising Westpac Centre Facilities. On 30 September 2014, Clark nominated Geelong as his preferred club to reignite his AFL career in 2015.[7] On 15 October 2014 Clark was traded to the Cats in a deal which saw Travis Varcoe join Collingwood and Heritier Lumumba join Melbourne.[8]

Statistics

Statistics are correct at the end of the 2012 season.[9]
Season Team No. Games Goals Behinds Kicks Marks Handballs Disposals
2006 Brisbane Lions 1 6 3 2 32 18 17 49
2007 4 7 6 25 19 11 36
2008 12 8 7 73 48 44 117
2009 24 7 7 192 144 198 390
2010 19 9 9 166 99 118 284
2011 17 27 13 159 83 78 237
2012 Melbourne 11 11 29 18 108 53 31 139
Totals 93 90 62 755 464 497 1252

References

  1. ↑ "Phantom Draft VI: the full list", lions.com.au, 24 November 2005. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Mitchell Clark Player Profile bio, lions.com.au, retrieved 2009-09-19.
  3. ↑ Sheahan, Mike (14 August 2009). "Mitch Clark of the course". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  4. ↑ Murphy, Catherine (29 May 2007). "NAB AFL Rising Star: round 9". Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  5. ↑ Hogan, Jesse (15 September 2009). "Unlucky Lion ruckman misses cut". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Clark handed Stynes' No.11". afl.com.au. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  7. ↑ http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-30/clark-keen-on-cats
  8. ↑ Clark a Cat, three-way deal sees Varcoe join Magpies, AFL.com.au official website, 15 October 2014
  9. ↑ "Mitch Clark statistics". AFL Tables. Retrieved 2009-09-19.

External links

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