Great to see these two commit to the club and get them both locked away for three more https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/re- ... 57bvb.html
Re-signed Saints young gun was rattled by Williams hit
Sam McClure
By Sam McClure
March 18, 2021 — 4.04pm
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St Kilda’s Hunter Clark says he was rattled after being bumped in the head by Carlton’s Zac Williams, a hit for which Clark says the Blue apologised.
The young gun has recommitted to the rising Saints for a further two seasons, along with fellow top 10 pick Nick Coffield.
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Star Carlton recruit Zac Williams in hot water
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Star Carlton recruit Zac Williams in hot water
Carlton's big off-season signing could miss the start of the season after this incident.
Clark, known internally for his skill and toughness, was on the receiving end of Williams’ late and high bump in a pre-season match that resulted in him being suspended for the AFL season opener against Richmond.
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The Saint said Williams was good enough to reach out through captain and former GWS teammate Jack Steele to apologise.
But Clark didn’t excuse the action.
Re-signed: Nick Coffield and Hunter Clark.
Re-signed: Nick Coffield and Hunter Clark.CREDIT:ST KILDA FOOTBALL CLUB
“I don’t know,” Clark smiled when asked if Williams deserved to be suspended. “I don’t make the calls. I guess it just depends how you look at it.”
“I was a little bit shaken up. But that’s the same with any big hit, it takes you a few seconds to gather yourself.
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“But I played out the game and felt pretty good.”
After three consistent years, 21-year-old Clark has gained the respect of his teammates and coaches. So much so that he has spent the entirety of the pre-season training as a midfielder, to move out of the half-back position he’s become accustomed to.
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But his former partner in crime Coffield is happy in defence, despite being drafted ultimately to become a midfielder.
While his development as an AFL player may have taken slightly longer than Clark’s, Coffield enjoyed an excellent 2020, finishing fifth in the club’s best and fairest and solidifying his position in the team’s best 18.
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“I’m pretty happy playing half-back,” he said.
“I’m pretty comfortable and the coaches are as well. We’ve got so many players that can go through the midfield, particularly when you add Brad [Crouch, formerly with the Crows] into the mix and now with ‘Hunts’ going through there as well, I’m pretty comfortable.”
Plenty has changed at St Kilda since the two were drafted alongside each other at picks seven and eight in the 2017 draft.
The club won just four games in their first season, under Alan Richardson, finishing 16th above Gold Coast only by percentage.
But now, after being part of a team that won a final last year, the two have a taste of things to come.
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“The place feels way different now,” Coffield said. “We’ve got new coaches, lots of new players and it’s pretty exciting what we’re building here. I just want to be a part of it because I really think we could have something special here down the track.
“Last year was just a glimpse of what we can do,” Clark said.
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“It was a pretty tough situation given the circumstances. To win a final was awesome … and we still had a lot of key players who were missing. That gives us younger fellas a bit of belief that we can carry more of the load going into this year.”
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The Saints go into Sunday’s clash with several key injuries and the depth of the list is clearly going to be tested in the early part of the season, but the club will be buoyed by the emergence of Clark and Coffield in the last two seasons.
The two also count themselves fortunate that they’re not avid golfers, like much of the team, given what happened to young teammate Max King.
King was struck in the head after former Saint rookie Jack Bell shanked an iron through the trees from another fairway. After failing a subsequent concussion test at the club later that day, King will now miss Sunday’s round one clash against GWS.
“It’s pretty unfortunate,” Coffield said. “I reckon we are the only two at the club that don’t play golf.”
The new deals for Clark and Coffield mean the duo is contracted until the end of 2023.
Clark & Coffield re-sign to 2023
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Re: Clark & Coffield re-sign to 2023
Great news I hope others follow their lead. If we can keep signing these type of players the future is bright IMO
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Re: Clark & Coffield re-sign to 2023
Yep, fingers crossed the 3rd Musketeer, Paton, signs on.bangaulegend wrote: ↑Thu 18 Mar 2021 11:23pm Great news I hope others follow their lead. If we can keep signing these type of players the future is bright IMO
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Re: Clark & Coffield re-sign to 2023
He extended last year until 2022.Ghost Like wrote: ↑Fri 19 Mar 2021 8:47amYep, fingers crossed the 3rd Musketeer, Paton, signs on.bangaulegend wrote: ↑Thu 18 Mar 2021 11:23pm Great news I hope others follow their lead. If we can keep signing these type of players the future is bright IMO