Veteran ruckman turns back the clock

Zac Clarke rarely loses when he twins 20 hit outs with 20 possessions.

In fact, the veteran ruckman has only lost one match in his long AFL and WAFL career when he has hit those two landmarks – and that happened last month when Subiaco went down to Leederville Oval co-tenants East Perth.

Subiaco have since changed gears to be the WAFL’s form team with the 33-year-old veteran Clarke one of the critical factors in the turnaround.

Clarke celebrate his 200th senior match at senior level on Saturday by turning back the clock with a stunning ruck display that steered Subiaco to a comprehensive 21-point win over West Perth in SportFM’s match of the round.

He had 41 hit outs, won the ball 23 times around the ground, laid a ferocious tackle, kicked an important goal and almost outmatched West Perth singlehandedly to be named the SportFM Siena’s Restaurant player of the round.

And he did it with an aching and ageing left knee that keeps him closer to the ground than in his early years at the Dockers, though he said the joint felt as good after the game as at any stage this season.

Clarke has returned to the Lions this season after several seasons in Melbourne local football following a career that took him from Fremantle (101 games) to East Perth (46), Peel (20), Essendon (9) and Subiaco (24).

Siena’s will provide a $100 voucher to the best player in the SportFM match of the round this season.

IMAGE: Supplied