Mitchell Clark
Mitch Clark at Brisbane Lions pre-season training in December 2008.
Personal information
Full name	Mitchell Clark
Birth	19 October 1987 (1987-10-19) (age 22)
Recruited from	East Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft	9th overall, 2005 Brisbane Lions
Height	198cm
Weight	95kg
Playing Career
Position(s)	Full Forward/Ruckman/Forward Pocket
Club	Brisbane Lions
Number	1
Club
Years	Team	Pld	G
2006–	Brisbane Lions	46	25

Mitch Clark (born 19 October 1987) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League. Standing at 2 metres tall, Clark is known for his ability to take aerial or contested marks, and is a reliable kick at goal. He is considered a key figure in Brisbane's future as a full forward or, as a ruckman, after his breakthrough 2009 season in the position.

[edit] Career

[edit] Background

Clark comes from Western Australia, and was recruited from East Fremantle. Clark was hit by a spell of meningococcal disease in the week before he was drafted, but made a full recovery.^[1] He was snapped up in the 2005 AFL Draft by the Lions, making use of their first pick, and was pick number 9 overall. Clark was given the number 1 guernsey after arriving at the Brisbane Lions, previously made famous at the club by Richard Champion.

[edit] 2006-2008: Injury plagued

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.

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]

[edit] 2009: Breakthrough

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]

[edit] Statistics

Statistics are correct as of end of 2009 season.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mitchell Clark profile on the Official AFL Website of the Brisbane Lions Football Club
• Mitchell Clark's statistics from AFL Tables