Geelong Cats chief executive Steve Hocking fires parting shot at new Fremantle Dockers recruit Jordan Clark
Samantha RogersThe West Australian
Tue, 26 October 2021 9:21AM
Jordan Clark. Credit: Quinn Rooney/via AFL Photos
Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking has fired a brutal parting shot at ex-Cat Jordan Clark
, who was traded to Fremantle after a lack of opportunity at his former club.
Clark landed at the Dockers in exchange for pick 22 and a future third-round selection, along with a future fourth-round pick in this year’s trade period.
The Albany junior, who was selected at pick 15 in the 2018 draft, played 32 games for Geelong (including 11 this season) but did not feature as the Cats looked to experience over youth in their failed finals campaign.
Chris Scott
’s side were thrashed but a Melbourne team brimming with young talent in the preliminary final at Optus Stadium - including WA’s Luke Jackson
, Trent Rivers
and Kysaiah Pickett
.
Jordan Clark. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos
Defender Jake Bowey also got the nod ahead veteran players in the Demons’ grand final side in what was just his seventh AFL game.
Hocking said the premiers were a good example of how clubs can find a good mix between youth and experience, but denied Geelong’s younger players had warranted the same treatment - including Clark.
“I look at Melbourne, and someone like (Demons veterans) Nathan Jones or Jake Melksham
,” he told Sportsday.
“They were pushed out of the team because young players were given an opportunity and they performed at the level they’re capable of.”
Asked if Clark, 21, was a “victim” of Geelong’s preference to field older players in pursuit of immediate success, Hocking gave a scathing assessment of the former Cat.
Geelong CEO Steve Hocking. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
“For our players, our younger players... you’ve got to do the work,” he said.
“If you do get an opportunity, you need to grab it with both hands and push past some of those experienced players.
“I think Melbourne have proven that, and they’re a great example of that.
“That’s the comment I would make around Jordan Clark
.”
The Dockers recruit said he had “no hard feelings” towards his former club after joining Fremantle.
PLAYERCARDSTART
6
Jordan Clark
- Age
- 23
- Ht
- 185cm
- Wt
- 83kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 13.7
- 4star
- K
- 9.4
- 4star
- HB
- 4.3
- 3star
- M
- 4.2
- 4star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- MG
- 172.0
- 3star
- D
- 12.5
- 3star
- K
- 8.5
- 3star
- HB
- 4.0
- 3star
- M
- 4.0
- 4star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- MG
- 172.0
- 3star
- D
- 12.2
- 3star
- K
- 10.4
- 4star
- HB
- 1.8
- 2star
- M
- 3.4
- 4star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
Samantha RogersThe West Australian
Tue, 26 October 2021 9:21AM
Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking has fired a brutal parting shot at ex-Cat Jordan Clark
PLAYERCARDSTART
6
Jordan Clark
- Age
- 23
- Ht
- 185cm
- Wt
- 83kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 13.7
- 4star
- K
- 9.4
- 4star
- HB
- 4.3
- 3star
- M
- 4.2
- 4star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- MG
- 172.0
- 3star
- D
- 12.5
- 3star
- K
- 8.5
- 3star
- HB
- 4.0
- 3star
- M
- 4.0
- 4star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- MG
- 172.0
- 3star
- D
- 12.2
- 3star
- K
- 10.4
- 4star
- HB
- 1.8
- 2star
- M
- 3.4
- 4star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
Clark landed at the Dockers in exchange for pick 22 and a future third-round selection, along with a future fourth-round pick in this year’s trade period.
The Albany junior, who was selected at pick 15 in the 2018 draft, played 32 games for Geelong (including 11 this season) but did not feature as the Cats looked to experience over youth in their failed finals campaign.
Chris Scott
PLAYERCARDSTART
Chris Scott
- Age
- 47
- Ht
- 182cm
- Wt
- 89kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 16.6
- 4star
- K
- 11.2
- 4star
- HB
- 5.4
- 4star
- M
- 5.1
- 5star
- T
- 1.6
- 4star
- G
- 0.4
- 3star
No current season stats available
- D
- 13.2
- 4star
- K
- 10.2
- 4star
- HB
- 3.0
- 3star
- M
- 2.2
- 3star
- T
- 2.8
- 5star
- G
- 0.4
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
9
Luke Jackson
- Age
- 22
- Ht
- 199cm
- Wt
- 102kg
- Pos.
- F/R
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 8.3
- 2star
- K
- 3.3
- 1star
- HB
- 5.0
- 4star
- M
- 1.5
- 2star
- T
- 1.0
- 3star
- G
- 0.3
- 3star
- D
- 8.3
- 2star
- K
- 3.3
- 1star
- HB
- 5.0
- 3star
- M
- 1.5
- 2star
- T
- 1.0
- 2star
- G
- 0.3
- 3star
- D
- 8.3
- 3star
- K
- 3.3
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 4star
- M
- 1.5
- 2star
- T
- 1.0
- 3star
- G
- 0.3
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
24
Trent Rivers
- Age
- 22
- Ht
- 188cm
- Wt
- 87kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 10.7
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.7
- 3star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 2.0
- 4star
- MG
- 171.3
- 3star
- D
- 10.7
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.7
- 3star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 2.0
- 3star
- MG
- 171.3
- 3star
- D
- 10.7
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 3star
- HB
- 4.7
- 4star
- M
- 2.0
- 3star
- T
- 2.0
- 4star
- MG
- 171.3
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
36
Kysaiah Pickett
- Age
- 22
- Ht
- 171cm
- Wt
- 73kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 8.0
- 2star
- K
- 4.7
- 2star
- HB
- 3.3
- 3star
- M
- 0.7
- 1star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- G
- 0.6
- 4star
- D
- 8.0
- 2star
- K
- 4.7
- 2star
- HB
- 3.3
- 2star
- M
- 0.7
- 1star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- G
- 0.6
- 4star
- D
- 8.0
- 2star
- K
- 4.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.2
- 3star
- M
- 0.8
- 1star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
Defender Jake Bowey also got the nod ahead veteran players in the Demons’ grand final side in what was just his seventh AFL game.
Hocking said the premiers were a good example of how clubs can find a good mix between youth and experience, but denied Geelong’s younger players had warranted the same treatment - including Clark.
“I look at Melbourne, and someone like (Demons veterans) Nathan Jones or Jake Melksham
PLAYERCARDSTART
18
Jake Melksham
- Age
- 32
- Ht
- 186cm
- Wt
- 85kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 9.2
- 2star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.3
- 3star
- M
- 3.0
- 3star
- T
- 1.2
- 3star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
- D
- 9.2
- 2star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.3
- 2star
- M
- 3.0
- 3star
- T
- 1.2
- 2star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
- D
- 9.2
- 3star
- K
- 5.6
- 3star
- HB
- 3.6
- 3star
- M
- 2.6
- 3star
- T
- 1.2
- 3star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
“They were pushed out of the team because young players were given an opportunity and they performed at the level they’re capable of.”
Asked if Clark, 21, was a “victim” of Geelong’s preference to field older players in pursuit of immediate success, Hocking gave a scathing assessment of the former Cat.
“For our players, our younger players... you’ve got to do the work,” he said.
“If you do get an opportunity, you need to grab it with both hands and push past some of those experienced players.
“I think Melbourne have proven that, and they’re a great example of that.
“That’s the comment I would make around Jordan Clark
PLAYERCARDSTART
6
Jordan Clark
- Age
- 23
- Ht
- 185cm
- Wt
- 83kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 13.7
- 4star
- K
- 9.4
- 4star
- HB
- 4.3
- 3star
- M
- 4.2
- 4star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- MG
- 172.0
- 3star
- D
- 12.5
- 3star
- K
- 8.5
- 3star
- HB
- 4.0
- 3star
- M
- 4.0
- 4star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- MG
- 172.0
- 3star
- D
- 12.2
- 3star
- K
- 10.4
- 4star
- HB
- 1.8
- 2star
- M
- 3.4
- 4star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
The Dockers recruit said he had “no hard feelings” towards his former club after joining Fremantle.