M & J Chickens Player of Round 20Wednesday, August 22, 2018 - 2:03 AM - by Chris Pike

HE might have not have played against a genuine ruckman but Zac Clarke took full toll in quite the dominant all-round display for Subiaco against East Fremantle on Saturday to earn M & J Chickens Player of the Round honours.

With captain Jonathon Griffin unavailable through injury to lock horns with his former Fremantle teammate, East Fremantle decided against playing a genuine ruckman against Subiaco and Clarke took full advantage in about as dominant a ruck display as you are likely to see.

There were plenty of other standout performers across the Round 20 action including big games from Claremont's Sandover Medal winning pair Kane Mitchell and Jye Bolton in the Tigers' win over Peel Thunder.

West Perth pair Aaron Black and Shane Nelson racked up 37 possessions apiece in the Falcons' win over East Perth while Mason Shaw kicked seven goals and Haiden Schloithe was right back to his best for South Fremantle in the Bulldogs' big win over Perth.

Even his Subiaco teammates Hayden Kennedy, Josh Deluca, Justin Joyce and Lachlan Delahunty were especially impressive, but it was Clarke who was the true standout performer of Round 20 and he couldn’t be overlooked for Player of the Round honours.

It was a dominant performance from Clarke in every conceivable area for a ruckman in the 91-point win for Subiaco over East Fremantle that ensured the Lions won all their road matches in 2018 and have a chance to go through all of 2018 without suffering a defeat.

Clarke finished the afternoon with 29 possessions, 32 hit outs, six marks and four goals in the biggest statement performance of a ruckman all season as he continues to find some incredible form after a knee injury forced him to sit out all of 2017.

The performance continues the outstanding form Clarke has been in over recent weeks having now been named as ruckman in the Team of the Round three straight weeks, and six times overall this season.

In the last month alone since Subiaco had the bye in Round 16, Clarke has been in especially ominous form averaging 18.0 possessions, 4.8 marks and 45.5 hit outs a game on top of also kicking nine goals.

Even though Clarke was able to have an impressive AFL career at Fremantle amassing 101 matches up until the end of 2016, including the 2013 Grand Final, his future was certainly cloudy after a knee injury forced him to miss all of 2017.

He was delisted by Fremantle at the end of the season before the 28-year-old decided to sign with Subiaco in the WAFL both to continue to play at a high level and enjoy his football again, but if his body and form was good enough, then also to potentially push for an AFL return.

It might have taken Clarke a little time to warm into the season at Subiaco and to get his top form and fitness back, but he certainly has done that now and his presence likely makes the Lions an even better team than the one that has won minor premierships and reached Grand Finals the past two years.

Clarke is now the leader in hit outs across the WAFL in 2018 with 627 while having also kicked 23 goals and averaged 15.6 disposals, 4.4 marks and 36.9 hit outs a game overall for the season.

The added bonus for Subiaco of Clarke being in such impressive form in the ruck is the versatility it gives the team. The biggest beneficiary is Lachlan Delahunty can be fully utilised in a variety of roles without having to carry the ruck and the same goes for veteran Clancy Wheeler.

Clarke looks every bit the dominant ruckman in the competition and now in the form he is in and his body standing up, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all for him to be back in the AFL system in 2019.

But right now, he looks like being one of the biggest factors in Subiaco's attempts to win the 2018 premiership after losing the last two Grand Finals and for Clarke himself to become a dual premiership player having played for Peel in the triumph of 2016.

M & J Chickens Players of the Round
Round 1 – Rhys Palmer (Swan Districts)
Round 2 – Fraser McInnes (East Perth)
Round 3 – Cody Leggett (Perth)
Round 4 – Shane Nelson (West Perth)
Round 5 – Patrick McGinnity (East Perth)
Round 6 – Marlion Pickett (South Fremantle)
Round 7 – Andrew Strijk (West Perth)
Round 8 – George Hampson (East Fremantle)
Round 9 – Nick Suban (South Fremantle)
Round 10 – Ben Howlett (Peel Thunder)
Round 11 – Michael Bennell (Perth)
Round 12 – Kyal Horsley (Subiaco)
Round 13 – Lachlan Delahunty (Subiaco)
Round 14 – Cody Ninyette (Perth)
Round 15 – Brant Colledge (Perth)
Round 16 – Aaron Black (West Perth)
Round 17 – Patrick Italiano (Swan Districts)
Round 18 – Shane Hockey (South Fremantle)
Round 19 – Luke Partington (East Perth)