Hunter Clark earns Round 13 Rising Star nomination after St Kilda’s win over Gold Coast

ST KILDA’S miraculous win against Gold Coast was sweetened on Monday night with No.7 draft pick Hunter Clark earning the Round 13 Rising Star nomination.

Round 13 AFL Rising Star Hunter Clark from St Kilda.

ST KILDA’S miraculous win against Gold Coast was sweetened on Monday night with No.7 draft pick Hunter Clark earning the Round 13 Rising Star.

Clark was one of the stars of the comeback, collecting seven disposals and laying four tackles after the Saints fell 39 points behind deep in the third quarter.

Champion Data ranked Clark the fourth-best player on the ground from the start of the Saints’ comeback.

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The teenager — who has already re-signed until 2021 — was also involved in four scores.
Only Jack Billings, Jack Steele, Jake Carlisle and Seb Ross (all eight disposals) touched the footy more during the fightback.

Veteran David Armitage said Clark had “Marcus Bontempelli-like” hands around stoppages and Clark said contested possessions and tackles were the measures of his midfield game.

“If I’m playing half-back it’s watching my edits when I’m one-on-one defensively,” Clark said.

Hunter Clark gets a kick away under pressure.

Coach Alan Richardson called Clark to tell him he had joined Ben Long as Saints’ second Rising Star this season.

Before every game Clark ties a second headband to his ankle and said he wore the same pair of lucky striped blue Bonds undies in every game last season.

“At one stage I played a pretty good game and I thought I’ll just keep wearing the undies, and I kept playing OK,” Clark said.

“I have a few headbands. I usually have a back-up one on my ankle. I’ve worn it since under-16s — I just always have it and always wear it.

“I wrap it around my ankle uncase I lose it. If I do lose it I just pull the other one out and put it on, so it’s just on the outside of my sock.

“I’ve lost a couple and had to pull them out, but then I’ve found them on the ground later in the game.”

With Clark’s parents away in Bali he has returned to the family’s Mt Martha home to look after younger siblings Angus, 13, and Molly, 17, during this week’s bye.

Hunter Clark snaps on goal against Melbourne.

Clark was stationed 50m out from St Kilda’s goal when Jade Gresham snapped the winning major with one minute remaining at Metricon Stadium.

“Gresh’s goal was one of the best things I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“I couldn’t see the angle it was working on, but could just tell off the boot it just looked good. Everyone went pretty crazy.”

Clark was credited with 53 SuperCoach points as the Saints kicked 6.5 (41) to 0.0 (0) in Saturday’s finish.

Only Gresham (65 points), Daniel McKenzie (60) and Carlisle (55) received more.

“I woke up this morning and five minutes after Richo called me,” Clark said.

The Rising Star was the last thing I thought of, to be honest. I had no idea — maybe I was in trouble or he was just checking in with what I was doing.

“He just said it was something I should be proud of and how it’s been a tough year but it’s a little reward for my form the last few weeks.”

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