Draft Spotlight #6 | Charlie Clarke

Written by Nathan Sepe

As part of the 2022 National Draft Coverage, Blue Abroad will place the spotlight on some potential draftees for the Carlton Football Club. 

The final player in the spotlight is Charlie Clarke, a live-wire small forward who has the ability to produce magic from anywhere inside forward 50. 

Carlton currently holds picks 10, 28, 62, and 64 in the upcoming AFL Draft, meaning the Blues would be most likely to take Clarke at pick 28 if the opportunity arises. 

Projected to land within picks 20 to 30, Clarke has showcased his ability to outwork and outsmart his opponent within forward 50 to create great looks at goal and often spark energy within an entire group of players. 

Clarke played his Under-18 football at the premiership-winning Sandringham Dragons this season, finishing runner-up in the club’s best and fairest, whilst also finishing second in the goal tally for the Dragons. 

Clarke’s 29 goals across the 2022 NAB League season saw him make a consistent impact across the year, and give himself every opportunity to make a statement each week. 

Clarke’s form leading up to the Vic Metro qualifier games was sensational, earning him a spot in this year’s Vic Metro side that won the 2022 National Championships. 

Across the NAB League season, Clarke played 15 games, averaging 1.9 goals per game, 18.6 disposals, 3.5 marks, and 11 kicks, an extremely all-around performance for Clarke’s usual small forward role. 

At times throughout the season, Clarke did see occasional minutes in the midfield rotation and proved to be a great asset to use his speed to gather the loose ball and burst inside forward 50. 

Clarke’s most memorable performance that put his name in the spotlight was Sandringham’s Round 4 win against Tasmania, where Clarke kicked 7.1 from 23 disposals. 

On seven occasions during the NAB League season, Clarke kicked two or more goals, whilst on six occasions also tallying more than 20 disposals.

Clarke’s craft work inside forward 50 gives him the ability to find openings in tight areas in the forward 50 and outwork his opponent to hit the scoreboard. 

Along with his craft work, it’s his ability to read the play without the ball that sets him up for simple opportunities, often restraining himself from flying in big packs in order to crumb at the drop of the ball and burst away for an open look at goal. 

His game also comes with some unpredictability, luring his opponent to expect a typical forward pocket type run, however, Clarke is able to switch up his running patterns quickly and provide a great lead-up target, which was backed up heavily by his accurate set shot kicking. 

Alongside his natural footballing ability, Clarke is a terrific character to be around and would easily slot into an AFL system.

On the field, it’s a different story, as Clarke is always a snarky character to play on, always proving that he’s no fun to play on if you’re a defender.

The best comparison is Stephen Milne. A livewire small-forward that had this magic to create opportunities where it didn’t seem possible, whilst also balancing an ego to get under the skin of his opposition. 

Carlton isn’t currently in dire need of another small forward, but Clarke is a genuine star the Blues should invest in. 

 Clarke is a player that thrives on great culture at a club and brings culture of his own when let out of his shell, which is why the Blues would be a great fit for Clarke. 

There’s no knowing where anyone is going in this upcoming draft, but if the option is there to take Clarke at pick 29, take him!

Chance of landing at the Blues: 30%