Australian RulesMartin Clarke will join an elite group early this morning, when he makes his 50th AFL appearance as an injury-hit Collingwood welcome Port Adelaide to Etihad Stadium.
Jim Stynes, Seán Wight, Tadhg Kennelly and Setanta Ó hAilpín are the only other players recruited directly from Ireland to have reached that milestone.
Clarke has fitted straight back into the Collingwood team since his return after a two-year sabbatical but with seven players absent this weekend and the Pies still chasing a first win of the campaign, he knows he is not taking his place for granted.
“I don’t think I’m in a position to be saying I’ve cemented my position in this team at all. Everyone needs to play their best and give their all, and I don’t think one player could say ‘I’m guaranteed my place’. That’s not the way it works,” said Clarke.
Meanwhile, Zach Tuohy only broke into the Carlton team towards the end of last season but despite only playing 14 times before this morning’s clash with Essendon, the Portlaoise man has managed to become a key player for the Blues.
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