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Geelong have once again used the trade and free agency period this off-season to recruit for a specific need. Mitch Clark ($156,000 in AFL Fantasy Classic) has joined the club as part of a three way trade that saw Travis Varcoe move to Collingwood and Heritier Lumumba join Melbourne.
The 27 year old retired from the Melbourne Football Club in April last year after being diagnosed with clinical depression. By September, Clark was looking to return to top level football once more and chose Geelong as his destination club, ahead of Collingwood.
Clark started his career with the Brisbane Lions under the tutelage of two of the greats of the game, Leigh Matthews and Jonathon Brown. He made his debut against Geelong in his first season, 2006.
His third year at Brisbane was his first full season, a season in which he played as their sole ruckman. Clark had the third most hit outs in the competition that year. He averaged just under 95 fantasy points and registered 10 fantasy tons. Coincidently, in the same year another Geelong ruckman, Hamish McIntosh while playing for North Melbourne, tallied the fourth most hitouts. A damaging combination.
Although he was recruited primarily as a much needed tall forward, Clark's skill hasn't gone unnoticed by the Geelong coaching staff. Chris Scott has flagged a forward/ruck role for 200cm recruit and fantasy pundits should take note. Clark may finish the season with dual position status.
In 2011, Clark played 17 games for 27 goals for Brisbane and in 2012, for Melbourne, he played 11 games for 29 goals, his two most productive seasons to date in terms of scoreboard impact. In both seasons he was his club's leading goal kicker.
Clark, who has had a colourful career in the AFL has made Geelong, his third club, home. Simmonds Stadium is not a ground Clark is unfamiliar with, on the contrary. He has a good record at the venue. Round 6, 2012; despite a loss at the home ground of the Cats, Mitch Clark kicked 4 goals against Geelong in a match that saw him as one of the better players on the ground for the Demons.
Clark is a powerful forward. At 103kg he is hard to budge in a contest but for a man of his size he leads up well. What the coaches will like is his work rate and pressure inside the forward 50.
All going to plan, Clark will play his 100th AFL game against the Gold Coast in round 3.
The former number nine draft pick has had his fair share of injury woes in the past. Foot and neck injuries plagued his time at Melbourne but it was a calf strain that threatened to derail his dream start at Geelong. Although the approach to his recovery is cautious, Clark is expected to take part in most of the NAB Challenge.
Clark is already one of the most selected players in fantasy sides but he doesn't come without risk. Even disregarding his history with injury, his fitness must also be of concern. Not having played a game of senior football since round 4, 2013 is bound to take its toll at some stage during the year. Expect Clark to be carefully managed throughout the season.
When it comes to fantasy drafts you are looking for players who find the footy a lot and hit the scoreboard regularly. Despite the depth of forwards this year, Clark may still prove to be a valuable selection in the latter rounds. His scoreboard contributions will net you some serviceable fantasy points and if he can add some hitouts to his stats sheet he will give you quite a handy return. However his true value lies in AFL Fantasy Classic.
Listed at a rookie price of $156,000 in the forward line in AFL Fantasy Classic, the new Cat is a must have. With a fantasy average of over 70 points across his last 5 years, Clark is a genuine 'cash cow'. In 2015, Clark is a good chance to improve on his fantasy output and significantly increase your fantasy wallet.
