WRFL 2019: North Footscray recruits forward Shaun Buttigieg-Clarke

A proven goalkicker who booted 107 majors in 2014 has put pen to paper with North Footscray in a sizeable boost to the WRFL Division 2 club’s attacking half.

Shaun Buttigieg-Clarke has signed on with North Footscray. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Proven goalkicker Shaun Buttigieg-Clarke has put pen to paper with North Footscray in a sizeable boost to the WRFL Division 2 club’s attacking half.

Buttigieg-Clarke booted 107 goals for Caroline Springs in 2014 and is a premiership player at Deer Park.

He has played just 15 reserves games for Division 1 outfit Spotswood over the past two seasons, but Devils coach Jonathan Miller is expecting Buttigieg-Clarke to be a key figure in his side’s premiership tilt.

The availability of spearhead Jason Butty, who has kicked 179 goals in the past three years, is “unknown” because of business commitments.

Jason Butty could partner Shaun Buttigieg-Clarke in the forward half. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“If he came back, it’s a bit of an embarrassment of riches to have either Buttigieg-Clarke or Butty playing full forward,” Miller said.

“Shaun just reads the football so well and is just a natural footballer.

“He’s played a couple of quarters for us in a practice match already and kicked two or three and it just looked effortless.”

Buttigieg-Clarke contributed 20 majors from eight games for Spotswood in 2015 before suffering a broken arm.

He has not been seen at senior level since after having a year off in 2016.

“I think he’s been playing off a half-back flank at Spotswood in their reserves, which I found a bit strange,” Miller said.

“Nothing’s happened. I think it’s just been work and family commitments and that stuff.

“I think Division 2 footy suits him with where he wants to be at. He doesn’t want to sell his soul for football anymore but still wants to play competitive, decent footy.”

After claiming the flag in 2017, North Footscray’s premiership defence ended with a 13-point loss to Parkside in last year’s semi-final.

Troy Manolis (Caroline Springs), Asher Kirk (Wyndham Suns), Nathanael Smith (Burnside Heights), Sam Martin (AFL Sydney) and Brad Ellis (Bulleen Templestowe) have also signed on.

The Devils have lost Brandon Walsh (Strathmore) and Jordan Lampi (Ardmona).

“We’ve gone with a completely different looking structure and different looking game plan because of some of the soldiers we’ve lost I guess,” Miller said.

“I think it was due at North Footscray anyway. We probably got away with playing on sheer talent for the last two or three years with not too much structure, not too much game plan.

“A bit of that was on me last year. We thought we had the talent to get away with a better result than what we ended up with.”

North Footscray will meet Manor Lakes in the opening round on April 6.