Matthew ‘Doc’ Clarke is due to become the 26th player in the history of the game to record 100 games at two separate clubs, having played 130 games with Brisbane, when he lines for his 100th appearance for Adelaide in Saturday’s Preliminary Final against West Coast.Widely regarded as one of the best tap-ruckmen to play the game, Clarke returned to the Crows line-up for the round 21 clash with Collingwood following the season ending knee injury to Ben Hudson and he made an immediate impact.Having not played in a Crows jumper since the opening round, Clarke had 18 commanding hit-outs against the ‘Pies’ and played with a renewed intensity and vigour which saw him credited with several important clearances during the contest.Clarke enjoyed another season of quality ruck work in 2004, sharing the duties with Rhett Biglands. He played all 22 games and his work at centre bounces and boundary throw-ins was outstanding. He finished last season third in the AFL for hit outs and his value to the Crows cannot be underestimated.His outstanding 2004 season saw him recognised as the Crows Best Team Man and he finished a creditable seventh in the best and fairest.Clarke and rucking partner Rhett Biglands will face an enormous task this week when they come up against All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox, who has the back up of players such and Michael Gardiner and Mark Seaby.“You just jump hard at the ball and try to make a good contest there, and then be conscious of him (Cox) around the ground,” Clarke said of the challenge offered by West Coast’s number one ruckman this Saturday.“He's obviously improved his running and his play around the ground this year, which has probably been the big difference for him. So you just have to have an awareness of where he is."
100 club games for the 'Doc'
Matthew ‘Doc’ Clarke is due to become the 26th player in the history of the game to record 100 games at two separate clubs, having played 130 games with Brisban
Matthew ‘Doc’ Clarke is due to become the 26th player in the history of the game to record 100 games at two separate clubs, having played 130 games with Brisbane, when he lines for his 100th appearance for Adelaide in Saturday’s Preliminary Final against West Coast.Widely regarded as one of the best tap-ruckmen to play the game, Clarke returned to the Crows line-up for the round 21 clash with Collingwood following the season ending knee injury to Ben Hudson and he made an immediate impact.Having not played in a Crows jumper since the opening round, Clarke had 18 commanding hit-outs against the ‘Pies’ and played with a renewed intensity and vigour which saw him credited with several important clearances during the contest.Clarke enjoyed another season of quality ruck work in 2004, sharing the duties with Rhett Biglands. He played all 22 games and his work at centre bounces and boundary throw-ins was outstanding. He finished last season third in the AFL for hit outs and his value to the Crows cannot be underestimated.His outstanding 2004 season saw him recognised as the Crows Best Team Man and he finished a creditable seventh in the best and fairest.Clarke and rucking partner Rhett Biglands will face an enormous task this week when they come up against All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox, who has the back up of players such and Michael Gardiner and Mark Seaby.“You just jump hard at the ball and try to make a good contest there, and then be conscious of him (Cox) around the ground,” Clarke said of the challenge offered by West Coast’s number one ruckman this Saturday.“He's obviously improved his running and his play around the ground this year, which has probably been the big difference for him. So you just have to have an awareness of where he is."
