Michael Clark (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Clark is a former Australian rules football
er who played for the Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL) and for East Perth
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL).
in the TAC Cup
competition, finishing in the top three of the best and fairest
in both of the seasons that he played for Ranges.
, the same club his father had played for, with Melbourne's fourth selection, 42nd overall, in the 1999 AFL Draft
. Clark missed the majority of the 2000 season due to injury. He did, however, play for Sandringham, Melbourne's VFL-affiliate
, in their winning VFL reserves Grand Final. Clark spent the first three quarters of the match playing on the wing and was moved to full-forward for the last quarter.
Clark played his first match for Melbourne in an exhibition match against Adelaide at the Oval
in London. The match was played in wet conditions, and Clark acquitted himself well in a match that the Demons won, although he was almost seriously injured when he slid over the boundary line and hit the interchange bench. Clark played his second match for Melbourne in the 2001 pre-season, against Richmond
. Despite this, Clark was unable to break into Melbourne's senior side throughout the 2001 season, though he was regularly named as an emergency.
Clark was named as an emergency several times during 2002, and suffered a setback during the middle of the season, missing nine weeks after breaking both of his wrists. Clark ultimately made his AFL debut in round 22 against St Kilda. Clark had initially been named as an emergency, but after injuries to Daniel Ward
and Matthew Whelan
, Clark was called upon to play. He spent the first half of the game on the bench, but came on in the third quarter and set up a Russell Robertson
goal with his first kick. With his next kick, Clark kicked a goal himself from 50 meters out that put Melbourne in front in a match the Demons ended up winning to guarantee themselves a place in the finals. Despite playing well, Clark was dropped for the next week and his first match of AFL football also proved to be his last.
Clark was delisted by the Demons at the end of the 2002 season and was subsequently drafted onto Melbourne's rookie list
only months after his delisting, with the 65th selection in the 2002 Rookie Draft. Clark, however, never played another senior game for the Demons and was delisted at the end of the 2003 season, after rupturing his spleen in June forced him to miss the rest of the 2003 season.
in the WAFL. He played 41 games for the Royals from 2004 to 2007. Clark then went on to play for South Bunbury
in 2008.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) and for East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL).
Early life
Clark is the son of former Melbourne player, Denis, who played 113 matches for the Demons in the 1960s and '70s. Clark's father did not allow him to play competitive football until he was 11; once he was old enough, he played junior football for Warrandyte and then Beverley Hills. Clark then went on to play for the Eastern RangesEastern Ranges
The Eastern Ranges are an Australian rules football team in the TAC Cup.The club is a founding member of the TAC Cup competition and has produced several players for the Australian Football League including Nick Malceski, David Wirrpanda, Jess Sinclair, Damian Cupido, Lindsay Gilbee, Travis Cloke,...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
competition, finishing in the top three of the best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
in both of the seasons that he played for Ranges.
AFL career
Clark was drafted by the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, the same club his father had played for, with Melbourne's fourth selection, 42nd overall, in the 1999 AFL Draft
1999 AFL Draft
The 1999 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1999 there...
. Clark missed the majority of the 2000 season due to injury. He did, however, play for Sandringham, Melbourne's VFL-affiliate
Australian Football League reserves affiliations
The Australian Football League stages the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in the country. However, since the late 1980s, when the former Victorian Football League expanded interstate to become the modern Australian Football League, there has not been a league-wide...
, in their winning VFL reserves Grand Final. Clark spent the first three quarters of the match playing on the wing and was moved to full-forward for the last quarter.
Clark played his first match for Melbourne in an exhibition match against Adelaide at the Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
in London. The match was played in wet conditions, and Clark acquitted himself well in a match that the Demons won, although he was almost seriously injured when he slid over the boundary line and hit the interchange bench. Clark played his second match for Melbourne in the 2001 pre-season, against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
. Despite this, Clark was unable to break into Melbourne's senior side throughout the 2001 season, though he was regularly named as an emergency.
Clark was named as an emergency several times during 2002, and suffered a setback during the middle of the season, missing nine weeks after breaking both of his wrists. Clark ultimately made his AFL debut in round 22 against St Kilda. Clark had initially been named as an emergency, but after injuries to Daniel Ward
Daniel Ward (footballer)
Daniel Ward is a former Australian Rules footballer for the Melbourne Demons.Playing his first game in 1998, Ward is a defender and was named as the club's 'Most Improved Player' for 1999. Two years later he was fifth in the Best and Fairest...
and Matthew Whelan
Matthew Whelan
Matthew Whelan is a former professional Australian rules football player.Wearing the number 45 jersey, Whelan was reliable defender/back pocket known by Demons fans simply as the "Wheels". He also earned the nickname "Wrecker" for his big hits and tough and uncompromisingly defensive style of...
, Clark was called upon to play. He spent the first half of the game on the bench, but came on in the third quarter and set up a Russell Robertson
Russell Robertson
Russell "Robbo" Robertson is a professional Australian rules footballer, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club....
goal with his first kick. With his next kick, Clark kicked a goal himself from 50 meters out that put Melbourne in front in a match the Demons ended up winning to guarantee themselves a place in the finals. Despite playing well, Clark was dropped for the next week and his first match of AFL football also proved to be his last.
Clark was delisted by the Demons at the end of the 2002 season and was subsequently drafted onto Melbourne's rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
only months after his delisting, with the 65th selection in the 2002 Rookie Draft. Clark, however, never played another senior game for the Demons and was delisted at the end of the 2003 season, after rupturing his spleen in June forced him to miss the rest of the 2003 season.
WAFL career
After being delisted by Melbourne, Clark moved to Western Australia, to play for East PerthEast Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
in the WAFL. He played 41 games for the Royals from 2004 to 2007. Clark then went on to play for South Bunbury
South Bunbury Football Club
South Bunbury Football Club is a semi-professional Australian rules football club based in Bunbury, Western Australia. The club plays in the South West Football League. Since being founded in 1897 the club has won 44 premierships and has been a runner-up 24 times...
in 2008.
External links
- Michael Clark's profile at WAFL Online