Fremantle's ruck power could be key to Dockers reaching their maiden Grand Final

AARON Sandilands might get all the attention but Zac Clarke is quietly making his presence felt in the Fremantle ruck division.

Zac Clarke

THERE’S an irony that in ­Fremantle’s gutsy qualifying ­final win against Geelong its ruck power became public knowledge for the first time this season.

In some ways, normal ­service was resumed, Aaron Sandilands was back to his dominant best and the footy world marvelled at the ­Dockers’ big-man depth.

But this widely held view is to do an almighty disservice to a man who has almost ­anonymously held Fremantle together through a season of ruck injuries.

Zac Clarke, despite standing 203cm, is not readily thought of as a genuine AFL ruckman, primarily because of his lithe frame.

But with Sandilands having missed much of the year with various leg ailments and Jonathon Griffin and Kepler Bradley both buckling with long-term knee injuries early in the season, the former Oakleigh Charger has more than shouldered the load.

Though not the same ruck beast, Clarke, 23, has quietly, but efficiently, tallied numbers around the ground that rival the All-Australian stats that everyone’s favourite athletic ruckman, Nic Naitanui, ­generated in 2012.

Yes, he’s that good.

After resuming from an achilles-related injury in Round 8, Clarke has averaged 14 disposals — elite for a ruckman.

Aaron Sandilands

And his danger to opponents is that almost half of those (6.5) have come from ­uncontested possessions, meaning he’s an athletic threat for which few teams have a logical match.

Fremantle assistant coach Simon Lloyd said Clarke didn’t think much about the vital role he has played for his club this season, saying “he’s just doing what’s required”.

But even in the team-first environment drummed in to the Dockers by coach Ross Lyon, Lloyd said Clarke had impressed with his development from a predominantly basketball background as a youngster.

Clarke has not played less than 79 per cent game time this season.

“He’s really got a better understanding of what’s ­required at this level now,” Lloyd said.

“His background has made him very strong athletically ... but he’s developed a good knowledge of the patterns run in AFL and he’s physically stronger and knows the game better than he used to.”

Clark Mitchell

Lloyd said while Clarke was happy to take the chance given to him by others’ injuries, it hadn’t changed his approach.

“That’s what we’re about. I suppose you can see it as his opportunity, but it’s just more what we talk to the (players) about all the time,” he said.

“He didn’t see it as a burden (when his fellow rucks went down), he just saw it as his role ... all we ever ask of them is ­effort and Zac has been great for us with his effort.

“That’s not to individualise him, because that’s what we ask of them all. But his tackling has been great, and his physical pressure has increased with every game and that’s how we rate our group.

“He’s definitely come a long way in his five years, but we think he’s got a lot of improvement in him still to come.”