MPFNL club Tyabb signs Keilor premiership star Matt Clark
Tyabb has added much-needed firepower with the arrival of an Essendon District Football League spearhead. The Yabbies have named other recruits, too.
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One of the leading players in Keilor’s undefeated 2023 premiership has landed in the Yabbies pond.
Matt Clark, who kicked five goals in Keilor’s grand final victory over Strathmore in September, has signed with Tyabb for the next two seasons.
The tall key forward kicked 57 goals this year after topping the EDFL goal kicking charts with 68 in 2022.
Clark is a two-time premiership player, a four-time EDFL Team of the Year member and has experience at VFL level playing for Coburg.
He will bolster a Tyabb side big on talent but in need of a focal point in attack.
Tyabb president Ray Hallal said Clark “fell in our lap pretty much”.
“It was through a connection with (Tyabb player) Corey Buchan and an old VFL coach that he used to play under, one of the assistants at the Dolphins knew Matt Clark,” he said.
“Matt Clark reached out to him and the rest is history I guess.
“We pounced on it.”
Hallal said Clark has a connection to the Mornington Peninsula.
“He’s got a family home at Safety Beach, his parents come down and enjoy,’’ he said.
“I think we fit what he wanted and he definitely fits what we want and need.”
Tyabb has also recruited Frankston Bombers rebounding defender Ryan Marks-Logan and Frankston YCW’s versatile player Cooper De Haas.
“We’ve got more news to come next week on a couple other signings,” Hallal said.
“We’ve shored up the forward half and also getting Marks Logan shored up our back half.
“We’ve been pretty active, we started a three year plan that we went into.”
Tyabb finished in ninth spot in Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 2 last season with a 7-11 record.
Matt Haverfield and Sam Fox took over as co-coaches in Round 3 and will look to build the Yabbies in 2024.
“It will be great because they’ll get a full pre season at it with their ideas, game plans and structures,’’ Hallal said.
“And a key forward in Matt Clark is going to play a big part in that game plan.”
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