Passing the Torch is a new spin-off podcast series under the Credit to the Girls umbrella. It profiles the young players of the AFL Women's competition who will be at the forefront of the league over the next 10 years. Episodes can be listened to via the traditional Credit to the Girls feed, wherever you get your podcasts.
AMBER Clarke's debut season was filled with firsts, but Essendon's first ever draft pick is well prepped for what's to come.
The Narre Warren local juggled cross-town travel to training at Tullamarine, her final semester of year 12 and a fresh playing position on the wing, in what was both her and the Bombers' first AFLW season.
She'd been flying earlier in 2022, taking out the then-NAB League best and fairest and captaining Dandenong Stingrays to a Grand Final loss where she was named best on ground, but it was as an inside midfielder.
"It was definitely a shock. I knew it was going to be tougher going into it, but I don't think I was quite as ready as I thought I was. It wasn't my best season, but I'm coming back bigger and stronger so this season will be better," Clarke said.
"It was just adjusting to it. Obviously I was doing year 12, like a lot of other girls were, trying to balance it was tough."
Clarke had a sterling athletics background before an untimely foot injury, and she still holds a national under-14s hurdles record. That pace saw the Bombers opt to play the 18-year-old on the outside.
"I was playing wing, which I had before, but it was many years ago. So it was understanding Essendon's midfield craft, how they do things there and then applying that to a new position and getting (myself) into the right positions," Clarke said.
"When I felt like I wasn't doing much in the game, I was told that I was and getting in the right position. I might not get the footy, but I was in the right position and holding my opponent out. That made me think it wasn't all about disposals, that it's more about off the ball and my running patterns. Once I got the hang of that, I think I was more comfortable.
"I had Cat Phillips on the other wing with me most of the time, and she's played for quite a few years, so it was good to learn off her. She helped me a lot, so working with her, a few of the others, and 'Woody' (coach Natalie Wood), it was easy to transition into the position. I picked it up pretty quickly, it was more just trying to apply it to the game."
EPISODE GUIDE
1.05 – Clarke's national hurdles background
5.35 – Essendon's first AFLW draftee
9.05 – Transitioning from junior footy to AFLW
11.04 – The year 12 juggle
14.30 – Lessons from season one
18.25 – Areas of improvement for Essendon in 2023
21.04 – Shift managing at McDonald's, study and footy
25.13 – Leadership with Clarke
