Jhye Clark is the first to admit he didn’t think he’d be in the position he finds himself.
On the outside of the Geelong’s best twenty-three for the majority of the second half of the season, following two concussions and a bout of Covid, the 21-year-old was resigned to his fate of watching on during September.
However, an unlikely door opened when veteran ruck Rhys Stanley suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the qualifying final.
While Clark only spent one minute on the field after starting as the substitute in the win over Brisbane, it provided a shot of confidence for the Cats’ first pick in the 2022 National Draft.
He turned out the following day in a VFL scratch match against Collingwood and retained his spot for the preliminary final.
Clark again started as the sub, but was called into action early following vice-captain Tom Stewart’s first-quarter concussion.
He produced an equal-season-high 14 disposal effort, which included four clearances, spending time across half-back and in the midfield.
While Clark’s spot in the grand final team is yet to be confirmed, it would be a surprise if he wasn’t running out in the Hoops on Saturday.
“If you told me six weeks ago I’d be in this position, I would not believe you at all,” he told K rock Football.
“I haven’t really slept much because it’s been so exciting and just the adrenaline rushing.
“It was very hard to get into the team, and then the VFL stopped, and then we were probably lucky that we got the week off so we could have a big training session.
“I just tried to train well in that, and then I got the chance with Reece going down.
“I definitely didn’t write it off, but I definitely didn’t think I’d be here.”
Click this link to listen to the full interview with Jhye Clark
X: @krockfootball
