[AFL NEWS] CLARKE To Make Dreamtime Debut

18-year-old Angus Clarke has been informed today he’ll play his first AFL game for the Bombers in Dreamtime at the ‘G this week, debuting on a special occasion for the Club and wider footy landscape.

Essendon’s sixth debutant of the season to date, Clarke is a tough, hard-running defender who took no time in making an impression on his new teammates over pre-season, winning each of the Club’s two-kilometre time trials and backing up his work with solid VFL form.

Despite the setback of a broken collarbone earlier this season, Clarke’s averaged 18 disposals in his three full VFL games this year, looking lively with the galloping play out of defence and penetrating kicking that’s seen him likened to Mason Redman, the leader he patterned his game on as a junior.

Clarke is grateful for the opportunity to live out his dream.

“I’m feeling very lucky and fortunate to be playing on the ‘G.

“It makes me very thankful to my parents. I wouldn’t be here without them, cutting wood in my frees at school, selling it and flying to Adelaide, driving twice a week, it’s all eventually paid off.

“I’m just ecstatic at the moment.”

Clarke was beaming after speaking with senior coach Brad Scott this morning.

“It was crazy (finding out),” Clarke said.

“I first missed the call (from Brad Scott), I was out for breakfast with Rhys Unwin, Kayle Gerreyn and Mason Redman. I picked up the phone and the boys were peeking through the window. It was an incredible moment, and I’m truly honoured to wear the red and black on Friday night.”

Clarke was selected with pick No.39 in the 2024 AFL Draft.

Despite two injury setbacks in 2024, Clarke made very promising impressions in his appearances with SA in the National Championships, grabbing seven rebound 50’s in each of his matchups with Vic Country and Vic Metro to highlight his attacking ability from the back half.

You’d struggle to find too many draftees from a recent class who’ve worked harder to chase their big-league dreams than Clarke, who’d cut and sell firewood on early mornings out of his hometown in Tantanoola, SA to fund the flights necessary to feature for Glenelg and the SA U18 team last year.

An energetic character around the Club dubbed ‘Pup’, Clarke now joins Isaac Kako, Tom Edwards, Saad El-Hawli, Lewis Hayes and Archer Day-Wicks as Dons to make their AFL debuts in 2025.

Clarke’s reward for effort comes in the form of a bumper crowd at the home of footy on Friday night, where the Dons stand against another exciting young side in Richmond at the MCG from 7:40pm on Friday night.