Clarke aims to be No.1 ruckman
Zac Clarke says he wants to eventually be Fremantle’s No.1 ruckman and is ready to re-sign with the club for the long term.
The 25-year-old is well advanced in contract negotiations to extend his 81-game career at the Dockers beyond the end of the season.
The discussions over a new multi-year contract come with Clarke having produced his strongest start to a season, averaging 14 disposals and six marks as the team’s support ruckman and a versatile forward option.
Clarke will confront a ruckman he rates as one of the league’s smartest, Todd Goldstein, against North Melbourne at Domain Stadium tonight, when the Dockers will be keen to mark Nat Fyfe’s 100th game with victory.
And though he admits harbouring ambitions of one day replacing Aaron Sandilands as the team’s chief big man, the 2008 No.37 draft pick said their combined forces were the best recipe for extending Fremantle’s unbeaten run.
The Dockers can achieve the second-best winning streak in club history tonight. A nine-game surge to reach the 2006 finals remains their best sequence. “Right now our strength is working together,” Victorian Clarke said.
“I think we do that really well. We’ve had a couple of years together now, so we’ve got strong chemistry and understand where each other’s at.
“My long-term goal is to be the No.1 ruckman, but I’m happy working with Aaron for now.
“This is the club that drafted me and gave me that first opportunity. You always look to repay them. The position the club’s in at the moment, it’d be pretty hard to walk away from an opportunity like this.
“It’s such a positive, determined environment. We really do strive for excellence. I think it would be tough to go to a different environment at the moment.
“Seven years is a long time. I’ve really settled my life over in Perth and am really enjoying it.”
Clarke’s growing maturity has led to his appointment as an ambassador for Breast Cancer Care WA. The charity raises funds for those battling the disease in WA through the annual Purple Bra Day on June 19.
Fans can buy a purple bra and register to support next month’s fundraiser at gate eight tonight.
Clarke also:
Praised ruck coach Simon Eastaugh for taking his contested marking to the next level, with Clarke sitting third at the club in that category behind only Fyfe and Sandilands.
Said his right knee was no longer a problem and had recovered fully after post-season surgery last year.
Revealed the knee injury at a New Year’s Eve music festival that derailed his 2014 season happened while walking down a hill at night.
Described his relationship with Ross Lyon as “clear-cut” and credited the Dockers coach for his development as a person.
Said his housemate and fellow ruckman Craig Moller had shown real promise in the WAFL this year.
Clarke said Fremantle were under no illusions about the quality North Melbourne possessed despite their inconsistent start to the season.
“We know they’ve got a lot of really strong midfielders and key-position players,” he said.
