Clarke & Foley Elevated to AFL Lists for 2019

Subiaco has once again produced a successful recruiting foil for AFL clubs, with both League Premiership player Zac Clarke and Colts Premiership player Luke Foley drafted in the past week.

Foley was selected in the second round of the AFL National Draft, while Clarke was one of the first players to be signed under a new AFL list management category, as a Supplementary Pick player.

After being touted as a first or second round pick in the National Draft, hard working midfielder Foley slotted in the middle of the second round, with West Coast selecting him with the 31^st pick.

It marks the second year in a row that West Coast has selected a Subiaco Colts midfielder in the second round after taking Brayden Ainsworth last season.

For Foley it was an exciting development to learn that he would be remaining in Western Australia and playing for the club he supported while growing up.

Foley came onto the radar of AFL clubs after a stunning start to the 2018 WAFL Colts season where he averaged 28 disposals and had a monster 36 disposals, 13 tackle game in Round Four.

That hot form continued onto the AFL Under 18 Championships, where Foley averaged over 17 disposals, named in WA’s best in two of his three championship games.

Foley returned from a late season injury to have an important impact in Subiaco’s Colts finals campaign, playing a pivotal support role in the Grand Final win by the Lions.

Meanwhile it was a case of one and done for Clarke, who put together an outstanding season of WAFL football, becoming the dominant big man of the competition.

Having not played for 18 months, yet still harbouring AFL desires, Clarke joined Subiaco hoping to follow in the footsteps of a number of other mature aged players who thrived in Subiaco’s league side.

True to this, Clarke added to the list of players who have been able to excel at state league level while at Subiaco, with Clarke averaging 39 hit-outs and 15 disposals across the season.

That second chance for Clarke will come back in his home state of Victoria where he was announced as Essendon’s supplement pick as part of the Supplementary Selection Period.

Impressively considering the injury troubles leading up to his time with Subiaco, Clarke was able to put together a full season of work, playing all 20 matches across the season, a sign that he is once again at full fitness for his second chance at AFL level.

As well as dominating in the ruck, Clarke was crucial up forward, kicking 28 goals on the season, the third most for the Lions last year.

Clarke’s best form came in the back half of the season where he had over 50 hit-outs on six occasions and kicked multiple goals in six games, with a four goal effort against East Fremantle highlighting his ability to be a dangerous forward.

His strong season was also recognised on Outridge Medal night with the ruckman placing third in the best and fairest count behind Kyal Horsley and Leigh Kitchin.

The Subiaco Football Club wishes Clarke and Foley the best for the next chapter of their football journeys.