A delisted tagging specialist has found a new club following his recent AFL exit.
Ryan Clarke, who was cut by the Sydney Swans at the end of the 2023 campaign, has joined forces with Waratah Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).
The midfielder initially burst onto the professional scene with North Melbourne in 2016 after being selected by the Kangaroos in the second round of the 2015 National Draft.
Clarke played 40 games in royal blue and white before making the transition to the Harbour City, where he made an additional 57 senior appearances under seasoned Sydney coach John Longmire across five seasons.
When Longmire's Swans battled Collingwood at the MCG in Round X this year, Clarke was assigned the dreaded task of curtailing superstar Pie Nick Daicos.
Daicos finished with 25 disposals and five tackles in a 29-point Collingwood triumph.
Clarke, as well as Will Gould, Hugo Hall-Kahan, Cameron Owen, Lachlan Rankin and Marc Sheather, was let go by the Swans' list bosses in early October.
Waratah confirmed its acquisition of Clarke via Facebook.
"We are pleased to announce Ryan Clarke has committed to the WFC for the 2023-2024 season," the club's statement reads.
"Drafted in 2015, Ryan has played 97 AFL games between North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans - so we know Red and White suits him."
The 'Tahs' are four games into their 2023-24 NTFL campaign and are preparing for their Round 5 clash this weekend.
