AIR JORDAN! Clark mark earns award nomination
Clark's high-flying antics in the club's disappointing loss to Sydney have earned the rebounding defender a Mark of the Round nomination.
During the first quarter of the clash against the Swans at the SCG, Clark lined up Sydney forward Braeden Campbell as a high-ball came out of defence.
With a three-step run-up, Clark launched himself up and onto Campbell before completing the mark in front of his face and landing like a cat.
It was one of just two marks on an unusually quiet day for Clark, who has been one of the Dockers' most influential players off half back.
The defender is averaging a career-high 24 disposals and is rated as elite for tackling, laying at least three per game.
Clark is also averaging a staggering 479 metres gained per match, more than 100 metres extra than his career average.
If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
West Aussie Kysaiah Pickett's effort for Melbourne against Adelaide is also impressive, the small forward coming from the back of the back to take a mark on the top of Crows big man Rory O'Brien.
St Kilda young gun Alixander Tauru rounds out the nominations for round 17, running back with the flight and splitting a pack to take the grab above his head, living up to his 'Flying Viking' nickname.
The mark that gains the most fan votes will then be in the running for the end-of-season Mark of the Year award.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
42 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The moments that cost De Minaur the biggest win of his life
It was just the second time this tournament that the former world No.1 had dropped serve. But arguably the key moment in deciding where this set was headed came in the second game, when Djokovic had the chance to immediately break back on de Minaur's serve. Djokovic made a decent-enough return, which de Minaur countered with a backhand slice, but the Serbian superstar lost balance and awkwardly flayed a forehand well long. De Minaur held two points later for 2-0, then benefited from another erratic Djokovic serving performance in the fifth game. Djokovic dumped a mid-court backhand into the net, then double-faulted on the second point and again at break point to fall 4-1 behind. One last unforced error off Djokovic's racquet – his 16th for the set – handed de Minaur a 6-1 lead. Demon misses his chance Second set, Djokovic wins 6-4 Any number of points seemed like crucial ones throughout this set as Djokovic began to assert his authority on the contest, only for de Minaur to repeatedly hit back. After they traded breaks to begin the second set, Djokovic poured the pressure on again to restrict de Minaur to 30-40. An incredible 35-shot rally followed, ending with de Minaur missing a backhand slice down the line. Djokovic sensed the moment, putting his finger behind his right ear and urging the crowd to make some noise. But de Minaur reeled in his 3-1 deficit to again level the set through six games. Djokovic came out on top in another titanic rally in the seventh game – this time 31 shots – to leave de Minaur 0-30, and the Australian eventually relented on serve. However, the critical moment for the set was still to come as Djokovic served to level the match at a set-all. De Minaur had already had a break point, but the second one was where his big chance came, on a Djokovic second serve. The Aussie pounced on it, pounded a forehand at Djokovic's feet, then, on a mid-court ball, struck a forehand long. Djokovic clinched the set two points later. Impatience costs de Minaur Third set, Djokovic wins 6-4 Both players fended off a break point each to start the set, and they held until four-all, when Djokovic made his move. De Minaur found himself in a 15-40 hole, but a superb inside-out forehand set up the easiest of put-away volleys. On the second break point, he nailed a 206km/h first serve out wide – exactly what he was after – that enabled him to step into the court, but he sprayed a forehand wide going for a winner. De Minaur's aggressive mindset helped him throughout the match, but, just like the previous set, his impatience and lack of execution at a key time cost him dearly. Djokovic leaked a forehand error in the next game to fall to 30-all, but was celebrating a two-sets-to-one lead soon after when he won a 27-shot rally with the simplest of dinks into the opposite service box. The damage was done two shots earlier when he ripped a cross-court forehand that sent de Minaur scurrying off court before forcing him to sprint across the other side with an off forehand near the opposite sideline. Brutal baseline warfare Fourth set, Djokovic wins 6-4 After saving a break point in the opening game, de Minaur stormed to a 4-1 lead as he threatened to send the match to a deciding fifth set. Djokovic even faced a break point to go 5-1 down, where de Minaur could not quite chase down an angled drop volley that ended up being his only opportunity for the game. The 24-time major champion made it out of the game without further damage, then tightened the screws. De Minaur defended back-to-back break points on excellent second serves and baseline play that drew Djokovic errors and got him back to deuce. But the Australian went break point down again trying to force the issue on his forehand. This is where Djokovic showed his mettle. A 32-shot rally followed of side-to-side brutal baseline warfare, but Djokovic took the initiative on a de Minaur backhand slice to rip a cross-court forehand on an extreme angle before crushing an inside-out forehand winner. Loading Starting with the final two points of that game, Djokovic captured 14 of the last 15 to complete his four-set defeat of a gallant de Minaur, who was left ruing his performance on the biggest of points. De Minaur won 36 of 52 points on rallies lasting nine shots or longer – an extraordinary feat – but Djokovic claimed four such exchanges mentioned above of 27 shots-plus at clutch moments that helped decide the match.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Matildas strike gold with late comeback victory
The Matildas' WA sojourn has ended on a high as they came from behind before snatching a late winner to prevail 3-2 over Panama at HBF Park. After a win, a draw and a loss in their opening three games across Perth and Bunbury, the Matildas overcame another battling effort from their central American opponents to ride out a roller-coaster game with a win in front of 10,657 fans. Ericka Arauz's wonderful effort gave Panama a first-half lead, but lightning struck twice after the break as Michelle Heyman twice connected with Hayley Raso crosses to give Australia the lead. A Lineth Cenedo thunderbolt eight minutes from time threatened to spoil the party, but Charli Grant bundled home an even-later winner to ensure Joe Montemurro's first international window in charge ended on a positive note. Charlotte Grant of Australia celebrates a goal with Courtney Nevin. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images For the coach and his players, attention will shift to their two further windows later in the year, before next year's Women's Asian Cup will kick off in Perth on March 1. Montemurro's experimentation continued, with a depleted Australian side making eight changes to the team which fell 1-0 to Panama in Bunbury on Saturday. While Heyman almost grabbed the headlines with a brace, Raso continued her strong return post-injury, with the winger a constant menace down the right wing. Buoyed by their win over the Matildas in Bunbury, Panama applied the same physical approach that brought them success in the previous fixture. Charlotte Grant of Australia celebrates a goal. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images Referee Yoshimi Yamashita had her hands full early as several Australian corners produced a tangle of bodies, with Amy Sayer unlucky not to win a penalty after appearing to be wrestled to the ground. Facing a fresh midfield pivot of Emily van Egmond and Amy Sayer, Panama were able to press high up the middle of the ground and funnel the ball into dead ends down the sidelines. While the Matildas struggled to control tempo and fight their way through outside of broken passages of play, the composure of Marta Cox and guile of Riley Tanner provided Panama's best outlets. Raso was the Matildas' most dangerous option and almost scored a superb goal in the 24th minute after Sayer's sumptuous flick released her. Ericka Araúz of Panama celebrates her goal. Credit: James Worsfold / Getty Images The winger stormed into the box after running a quarter of the pitch, but her goal-bound effort was foiled by glove and post, before Remy Siemsen's follow-up was pushed away and van Egmond's long-range effort similarly dealt with by goalkeeper Farissa Cordoba. And Panama made Australia pay 10 minutes later when Jessika Nash, already guilty of one turnover which led to a shot on goal, dwelled on the ball under pressure and waylaid a pass to van Egmond. Aruaz took advantage and won the ball before unleashing a dipping strike from distance, which left Chloe Lincoln with little chance. Australia continued to focus their attentions on the right hand channel, with Raso's cut-back ending in Charli Grant lofting over before Siemsen could not make connection with a Grant low cross in stoppage time. Nine minutes after the restart, the Matildas levelled when Holly McNamara picked up a loose ball and fed Raso, who in turn teed up Heyman for a simple finish. Michelle Heyman of the Matildas celebrates a goal Credit: Janelle St Pierre / Getty Images Heyman almost connected with Courtney Nevin's teasing cross in the 64th minute, but a minute later she grabbed her second as she met Raso's perfect outswinging cross and redirected it into the corner of the net. The toll of the game looked like it was starting to wear on Panama, but they got their second wind late as Lincoln did well to deny Tanner from range, before Nash saved the day by shuttling Cedeno's effort wide on the goal-line. But gaps in the Matildas' midfield began to appear late, and as Panama streamed forward in the 82nd minute, Cox rolled the ball into Cedeno's path for the winger to lash home. Just when the game looked set for a draw, the two full-backs combined as Nevin's whipped cross was met by Grant's last-ditch effort to seal victory.
West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
Matildas end four-game WA stint on a high with 3-2 comeback win over Panama at HBF Park
The Matildas' WA sojourn has ended on a high as they came from behind before snatching a late winner to prevail 3-2 over Panama at HBF Park. After a win, a draw and a loss in their opening three games across Perth and Bunbury, the Matildas overcame another battling effort from their central American opponents to ride out a roller-coaster game with a win in front of 10,657 fans. Ericka Arauz's wonderful effort gave Panama a first-half lead, but lightning struck twice after the break as Michelle Heyman twice connected with Hayley Raso crosses to give Australia the lead. A Lineth Cenedo thunderbolt eight minutes from time threatened to spoil the party, but Charli Grant bundled home an even-later winner to ensure Joe Montemurro's first international window in charge ended on a positive note. For the coach and his players, attention will shift to their two further windows later in the year, before next year's Women's Asian Cup will kick off in Perth on March 1. Montemurro's experimentation continued, with a depleted Australian side making eight changes to the team which fell 1-0 to Panama in Bunbury on Saturday. While Heyman almost grabbed the headlines with a brace, Raso continued her strong return post-injury, with the winger a constant menace down the right wing. Buoyed by their win over the Matildas in Bunbury, Panama applied the same physical approach that brought them success in the previous fixture. Referee Yoshimi Yamashita had her hands full early as several Australian corners produced a tangle of bodies, with Amy Sayer unlucky not to win a penalty after appearing to be wrestled to the ground. Facing a fresh midfield pivot of Emily van Egmond and Amy Sayer, Panama were able to press high up the middle of the ground and funnel the ball into dead ends down the sidelines. While the Matildas struggled to control tempo and fight their way through outside of broken passages of play, the composure of Marta Cox and guile of Riley Tanner provided Panama's best outlets. Raso was the Matildas' most dangerous option and almost scored a superb goal in the 24th minute after Sayer's sumptuous flick released her. The winger stormed into the box after running a quarter of the pitch, but her goal-bound effort was foiled by glove and post, before Remy Siemsen's follow-up was pushed away and van Egmond's long-range effort similarly dealt with by goalkeeper Farissa Cordoba. And Panama made Australia pay 10 minutes later when Jessika Nash, already guilty of one turnover which led to a shot on goal, dwelled on the ball under pressure and waylaid a pass to van Egmond. Aruaz took advantage and won the ball before unleashing a dipping strike from distance, which left Chloe Lincoln with little chance. Australia continued to focus their attentions on the right hand channel, with Raso's cut-back ending in Charli Grant lofting over before Siemsen could not make connection with a Grant low cross in stoppage time. Nine minutes after the restart, the Matildas levelled when Holly McNamara picked up a loose ball and fed Raso, who in turn teed up Heyman for a simple finish. Heyman almost connected with Courtney Nevin's teasing cross in the 64th minute, but a minute later she grabbed her second as she met Raso's perfect outswinging cross and redirected it into the corner of the net. The toll of the game looked like it was starting to wear on Panama, but they got their second wind late as Lincoln did well to deny Tanner from range, before Nash saved the day by shuttling Cedeno's effort wide on the goal-line. But gaps in the Matildas' midfield began to appear late, and as Panama streamed forward in the 82nd minute, Cox rolled the ball into Cedeno's path for the winger to lash home. Just when the game looked set for a draw, the two full-backs combined as Nevin's whipped cross was met by Grant's last-ditch effort to seal victory.
