With regular forwards Brendan Fevola and Jonathan Brown both missing through injury, Clark was thrust into the goalsquare in Sunday’s seven-point loss to Adelaide.
He responded in kind with an equal career best five goals.
Last season Clark was unlucky to miss All Australian selection as a ruckman after carrying the entire load for the Lions following a season-ending knee injury to Matthew Leuenberger in round three.
After Sunday’s showing Clark said he thrived on the extra game time and didn’t mind which position it was.
“I love the game time and I think most of the boys do, but that’s the way footy’s going these days," he said. "I like the old school way of taking your opponent on one on one and trying to run them into the ground.
“I can’t impact the game as much if I’m playing 50 to 60 per cent game time... that’s the way it’s gone this year.
“I probably had that responsibility up forward where I had to stand up and I enjoy that challenge so whether it’s up forward or in the ruck I’m just trying to add strings to my bow.”
Clark is a natural forward and can win the ball in the air and on the ground as he did against Ben Rutten.
He kicked three first half goals in general play, then two from marks in the second half, and said he was hoping to nail down a forward spot over the remaining two games.
“If that’s what Vossy wants then I’m happy to do that and have my stint in the ruck when Leuey needs a rest," he said.
“Probably one of my strengths is my agility so I try to use that to my advantage and get my opponent on the move when I can.”
Voss agreed that Clark played his best football when he was “the man”.
“He looked fairly ominous for us when the ball was coming forward," Voss said. "He crashed the packs when he was against two or three, his individual work rate was quite high and he had an impact at ground level.
"If we can play Mitch in more of that role in the future it’d be fairly handy.
“I’d still like to keep him as a ruckman, but it’s always balance of the list and being able to utilise your resources.”
