Steven Clark (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Steven Clark was an Australian rules football
er who played with Essendon
, Melbourne
and St Kilda in the Australian Football League
(AFL), previously Victorian Football League (VFL).
Clark was a rover who had originally trialed with Fitzroy
but was recruited to Essendon by Kevin Sheedy midway through the 1985 VFL season
, despite being aged 24. He participated in four games that year, including the last two of the home and away season but missed out on the finals and subsequent premiership.
A strong season in 1986 saw Clark picked to play for the Victorian interstate team. He kicked 33 goals for the year, the third most at Essendon. This included a career best five goals in a win over Geelong
at Windy Hill
. His form wavered the following season but in 1988 he played well enough to kick 22 goals. He managed just three games in 1989 and was traded to Melbourne.
While he struggled to make it onto the field for Essendon due to the strength of the team, it was looking like he would become a regular at Melbourne as he appeared in the first three games of the 1990 AFL season
, but he then suffered a serious knee injury. On his debut with Melbourne he had received two Brownlow Medal
votes for three goals and 20 disposals against North Melbourne
. He missed the rest of the season but came back in 1991 to play 18 of a possible 22 games but wasn't picked for Melbourne's finals series. For the second time in his career, Clark was traded and ended up at St Kilda, where he spent just one season.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
and St Kilda in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL), previously Victorian Football League (VFL).
Clark was a rover who had originally trialed with Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
but was recruited to Essendon by Kevin Sheedy midway through the 1985 VFL season
1985 VFL season
The 89th Victorian Football League Premiership season commenced in March 1985 and concluded on 28 September 1985 with Essendon winning their second consecutive Premiership in their third consecutive Grand Final battle with Hawthorn...
, despite being aged 24. He participated in four games that year, including the last two of the home and away season but missed out on the finals and subsequent premiership.
A strong season in 1986 saw Clark picked to play for the Victorian interstate team. He kicked 33 goals for the year, the third most at Essendon. This included a career best five goals in a win over Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
at Windy Hill
Windy Hill, Essendon
Windy Hill is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern suburb of the Melbourne metropolitan area....
. His form wavered the following season but in 1988 he played well enough to kick 22 goals. He managed just three games in 1989 and was traded to Melbourne.
While he struggled to make it onto the field for Essendon due to the strength of the team, it was looking like he would become a regular at Melbourne as he appeared in the first three games of the 1990 AFL season
1990 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1990.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 154...
, but he then suffered a serious knee injury. On his debut with Melbourne he had received two Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes for three goals and 20 disposals against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. He missed the rest of the season but came back in 1991 to play 18 of a possible 22 games but wasn't picked for Melbourne's finals series. For the second time in his career, Clark was traded and ended up at St Kilda, where he spent just one season.