CLARK, Steven

Due to Essendon's shortage of rovers, coach Kevin Sheedy with his then-runner Colin Hooper, plucked Steven Clark from Bulleen-Templestowe in the Amateurs mid-season.

He had originally tried out with Fitzroy in 1981, but had been rejected. He then had four seasons with Doncaster, but thought he would have a crack at "better" football. Within a year he was playing for his state.

He was a speedy rover who won Essendon’s Best First Year Player award in 1985. He had a fine year in 1986, won the Club’s Most Improved Player award and was selected in the State side in that year. He was also Essendon third leading goalkicker in that year and the Club's second top Brownlow Medal vote getter.

He had trouble securing a regular place in the strong teams of that era and although he played 11 games he spent more time in the Reserves.

He was traded to Melbourne with pick 39 in 1990 where he played 21 games but seriously injured a knee. He was drafted by St Kilda with pick 34 in the 1992 Pre-season draft and played six games there that year.

Steven Clark died from pancreatic cancer on 12th November, 2005.