Mitch Clark Pre-season Interview

[PROUD LION]

I like his enthusiasm; hoping he plays 22 games for us next season....think he'll kick 50+ if he does :thumbsu: ......potential to be a dead set gun.

Clark out to boost resilience

12:42 PM Thu 25 October, 2007 | Back (javascript:history.go(-1);)

for lions.com.au



News


WHILE most people dread returning to work after their yearly holidays, young Brisbane Lions forward Mitch Clark couldn’t be happier.
The East Fremantle product has endured two frustrating seasons at the Gabba, managing only 10 games because of a combination of osteitis pubis and knee and quadricep injuries.
Not surprisingly, the No.9 selection of the 2005 National Draft is setting his sights on an uninterrupted 2007 and was delighted to begin pre-season training alongside his teammates earlier this week.
“For myself, it’s actually pretty exciting to be starting the pre-season,” Clark told lions.com.au.
“Putting in a full pre-season is very important to me because I’ve been here a couple of years now and only played the 10 senior games.
“Obviously, that’s not nearly as many as I would have liked and hopefully a full pre-season will put me in a position where I can put together consecutive games.”
Clark, who only turned 20 last week, puts his injury woes down to his 198cm, 91kg frame not being ready for full-time AFL football.
With the Lions taking an individualised approach to the early parts of the pre-season, Clark’s program over the next couple of months will be aimed at rectifying that problem.
Included in his regime will be pilates, the fitness system Jonathan Brown credits with helping put him on the path to last season’s Coleman Medal.
“I know now that when I got here my body just wasn’t up to playing consecutive games of senior footy,” Clark said.
“My pre-season is going to be about making my body resilient. I’m doing pilates a couple of times a week and also plenty of stretching exercises.
“I’ll also be doing a fair bit of work in the gym and [Lions strength and conditioning coach] Alex Moore has been fantastic with that.
“Once the resilience is there in my body, I’ll get into more of the endurance type of stuff.”
With Brown coming off a career-best year and Daniel Bradshaw returning from injury, the Lions look set to have a potent forward line in 2008.
Clark is hoping there will be a place in it for him – something Lions fans would certainly look forward to after his five-goal haul against arch-rivals Collingwood at the Gabba in round nine, 2007.
“Braddy is a proven 60-goal-a-year full-forward and it will be fantastic to have him back,” Clark said.
“With him there, Browny will be able to play out at centre half-forward and we should be pretty hard to stop.
“Hopefully I can just float around them somewhere and get a few kicks of my own.”

[Dylan12]

Of course, can't get ahead of ourselves - but with Brown, Bradshaw, Clark and Hooper/McGrath etc and Brennan further up ground as a wingman/HFF it is exciting, would not like to be an opposition coach if you have 3 tall gun forwards on fire - with the exception of Geelong - not sure how many sides have 3 quality tall defenders to cover them all - I am NOT saying we are the only challenger, would be happy just to make the 8 next year and cause an upset or 2, but i am saying we look bloody dangerous - good luck Clarky - if he can have 6-10 games like he did against the Pies - will be another excitement machine.

Love the fact that once we lost our core of 2001-2004 players like Voss, Fly, Pike etc etc etc that we have rebounded quickly and look ominous again remembering we also have TJ now - I reckon Big Kev's catch phrase is as pertinent as ever:thumbsu:

[Sherminator.]

Clark will bag 35 or so next season if he can manage 22 games. :)

Great see him doing pilates. Good boy, Mitch! :)

[_charlie_]

Brown, Bradshaw, Clark, Hooper, Corrie, McGrath, Brennan, Mills + Copeland

This is not only a potent forward line, but one with depth.

= Very exciting!

[PROUD LION]

Brown, Bradshaw, Clark, Hooper, Corrie, McGrath, Brennan, Mills + Copeland

This is not only a potent forward line, but one with depth.

= Very exciting!

I'd love to see Lukey Power resting there late in quarters....he's as good a small forward as anyone in the league, so creative it's not funny :thumbsu:

[Vipertooth]

I have been waiting for Clark to have a big season, Hope this is his year, along with Brennan :D:thumbsu:

[awesome_assassin]

agree with proud lion re Luke Power. He was a 50 goal a year small forward during our glory years was he not. I remeber he kicked 50 one year anyway. Couldnt think of anyone more suited to rest up forward and bag a few:thumbsu:

[Sherminator.]

Gotta love Clark, mature head on a young boy. Has had a great attitude since day one.

On ya Clarky!

[konstas_87]

I'd love to see Lukey Power resting there late in quarters....he's as good a small forward as anyone in the league, so creative it's not funny :thumbsu:

last year when Browny was out and we couldnt buy an attractive inside 50, Lukey Power was thrown forward a couple of times and just looked so much more dangerous than anyone else in the team could at the time.

[beatnik]

with a fit list to choose from, there'd be no reason Luke couldn't spend a fair bit of time near the sticks

the addition of Johnson gives us the luxury of not having to play Luke on the ball as much

if one of Sherman, Riska or Stiller step up next season the way Jedi did this year, we might see Power playing as a permanent small forward in 2008 :eek: ;)