Mitchell Clark Impresses Early

Brisbane’s first selection of the 2005 National Draft Mitchell Clark has put some impressive performances together in the NAB Cup competition.

The number nine selection overall, recruited from East Fremantle, has been a standout in the Lions’ preseason campaign.

Clark who started at centre half-forward against Essendon in round one of the NAB Cup booted three goals in the first half and backed that up with three more against Melbourne the following week.

Lions’ coach Leigh Matthews was impressed with his young charger’s start. “He is a very good young player. He’s more a forward 50 player than a running centre half-forward, but yeah, he is very impressive.”

The Lions have an impressive track record for spotting young talent and would have been delighted to see the talented tall man slip through to number 9 in the draft. He is well credentialed having represented Australia in the International Rules Youth Series in 2004 and was a former AIS Academy scholarship holder.

Clark who suffered meningococcal disease in draft week was again struck down by the curse of the 2005 draftees when he fractured his thumb in his side’s loss to the Demons.

Mitchell Clark will certainly be a name to look out for as the nominations roll in for the NAB Rising Star Award thoughout the year.