Zac Clarke

Zachary Clarke (born 28 March 1990) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He previously played for the Fremantle Football Club and Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Zac Clarke
Clarke playing for Fremantle in 2015
Personal information
Full name Zachary Clarke
Date of birth (1990-03-28) 28 March 1990
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 37, 2008 national draft
Height 203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 96 kg (212 lb)
Position(s) Ruckman
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2009–2017 Fremantle 101 (46)
2009–2012 East Perth 46 (29)
2013–2016 Peel Thunder 20 (14)
2018, 2023– Subiaco 36 (36)
2019 Essendon 9 (0)
Total 110 (46)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 18, 2023.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Clarke was born in Australia to an Australian mother and African-American father.[1][2] He grew up in Melbourne in Victoria playing basketball, a fan of Kevin Garnett and dreamt of playing in the NBA. He represented Victoria in the youth state championships and was organising trails with US clubs before moving to Perth, Western Australia at age 18 when he gave up basketball and transitioned Australian rules.[3]

AFL Career

Clarke was drafted with the 37th selection in the 2008 AFL Draft after playing his first season of competitive football with the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup in 2008. He represented Victoria Metro at the 2008 AFL Under 18 Championships. At 203 cm, he had previously played basketball for the Nunawading Spectres and had hoped to play at a US College.[4] An athletic player with good endurance, he lived with Fremantle's first choice ruckman, 211 cm Aaron Sandilands when he first moved to Western Australia.[5] He attended Koonung Secondary College.

For the 2009 season, Clarke was allocated to play for East Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League and after two impressive games was named in Fremantle's senior squad for their Round 3 match against Adelaide.[6] He eventually made his debut in the round 13 clash against Collingwood Football Club after averaging an impressive 16 hit outs in the WAFL.[7]

In round 20, 2011, following a strong performance against St Kilda, Clarke was nominated for the 2011 AFL Rising Star.[8]

Clarke was delisted by Fremantle at the conclusion of the 2017 season, having missed much of the past two seasons through injury.[9]

In November 2018, Clarke returned to AFL, joining Essendon via the newly implemented pre-season supplemental selection period.[10]

In October 2019, Clarke was delisted by Essendon after 9 games in the 2019 season.[11]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2016 season[12]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
H/O
 Hit-outs
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2009 Fremantle 3050093645810350.00.01.87.29.01.62.07.0
2010 Fremantle 3030131720312250.00.31.05.76.71.04.08.3
2011 Fremantle 3013666211517742681720.50.54.88.813.63.25.213.2
2012 Fremantle 301513131056717267481210.90.97.04.511.54.53.28.1
2013 Fremantle 3017838414222668573550.50.24.98.413.34.03.420.9
2014 Fremantle 3021121013212625892572520.60.56.36.012.34.42.712.0
2015 Fremantle 301472737514857281620.50.15.25.410.64.12.011.6
2016 Fremantle 301303378912637352490.00.22.86.89.72.82.719.2
Career 101 46 38 505 667 1172 374 315 1371 0.5 0.4 5.0 6.6 11.6 3.7 3.1 13.6

References
  1. Zac Clarke answers your questions Aug 26, 2013
  2. https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/715265/a-multicultural-freo A multicultural Freo] By Costa Kastanis on Jul 18, 2014
  3. Zac's hoop dreams By Costa Kastanis on Jul 3, 2014
  4. Pike, Chris; Clarke swaps hoop for sticks; 8 December 2008
  5. Rickard, Jayne; Dockers show off their new recruits; The West Australian; 2 December 2008
  6. Freo goes for youth; 10 March 2009
  7. Schmook, Nathan (25 June 2009) Freo set for more debutants
  8. Holmesby, Luke (9 August 2011). "Hoop dreams". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  9. "Fremantle list update".
  10. afl.com.au
  11. "Dons make further list changes".
  12. "Zac Clarke". AFL Tables.
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