Mason Redman lauds Essendon’s cult hero debutant Angus Clarke from Mount Gambier

They call him ‘Young Redman’. Find out more about the origins and journey of the Bombers’ newest cult hero from his former housemate ‘Old Redman’ here.

Mason Redman says he was the “most excited bloke in Victoria” when Essendon read out Angus Clarke’s name on draft night last year.

And after he and his fiancee Emma took in the Mount Gambier teenager for the summer and watched him begin life as an AFL footballer, his stellar debut hardly surprised them.

Clarke spurred the Bombers to life against Richmond with 3.1 from 16 disposals and became an instant fan favourite after years of hard work and eye-watering travel to earn his chance.

“Dreamtime at the ‘G in your first game … (Clarke) probably thinks AFL is bloody easy, the way he went tonight,” Redman told the Herald Sun after the 23-point win on Friday.

Essendon debutant Angus Clarke (right) celebrates one of his three goals with Jade Gresham during the Bombers’ Dreamtime win over Richmond on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

“But he works incredibly hard. He’s a very energetic and fun kid, and he’s been awesome for the group.

“He’s full of beans and he has a lot of fun, but I’ve been able to see the work he puts into not only his game, but just in general being around the football club and the team.

“He went back and slotted those goals with confidence because he has that work behind him.”

Redman hails from Millicent, only about 15km northwest of the Clarke’s dairy farm at Tantanoola.

Angus Clarke’s first goal

His younger brother grew up playing junior football with Clarke, who he was desperate to see get to The Hangar.

“Me and Emma were sitting on the couch in November when the draft was on, and I knew he was around the mark to come to Essendon,” Redman said.

“I was the most excited bloke in Victoria when he got picked up, and rang him straight away. “He’s just another young fella from the southeast, and I’m super proud of him.

“At the start he moved in with us until Christmas time. I don’t necessarily have the biggest house … I would’ve loved to have him longer, but he had to get going.

Redman presents Clarke with his jumper pre game. Picture: Getty Images

Clarke with friends and family in the rooms after the win. Picture: James Wiltshire / Getty Images

“He comes round once a week for dinner, and he only lives five minutes down the road so I see him all the time.”

Nic Martin said comparisons between Clarke and Redman, who presented him his jumper before the game, were constantly made by their teammates.

“He’s one of those hard-nosed players from the country that we really love. He’s a young Redman, we call him, he’s from the same area,” he said.

Goal No. 3

Stuart Clarke told Fox Footy he was like a “cat on a hot tin roof” watching his son play his first game in front of 76,000 at the MCG.

“I’m not a big hugger, not big at crying … but I must admit, I had half a tear, when he left home to come to Melbourne, I had a tear, so it’s changed me a bit I think,” he said.

“He lost a worker, that’s why,” his son interjected.

“Correct call, I lost half me workforce.”