WHEN Ryan Clarke was dropped for a second time after just six rounds of the new season his move from North Melbourne over summer looked like being a bust.
Clarke, who managed 40 matches for the Roos over three seasons before being traded at the end of last year, hadn't been the Swans' worst player over the first few weeks of 2019, but his lack of physicality and a couple of quiet games had him on the outer of John Longmire's team.
He needed to learn the Bloods way, and when Longmire threw him another opportunity in round nine, in a new role, the 21-year-old took his chance.
SWANS FALL SHORT Full match coverage and stats
The former Kangaroo was given the job of shutting down his old teammate Shaun Higgins in last week's clash in Hobart, and restricted North's best playmaker to just 20 possessions in Sydney's thrilling five-point win.
Clarke's performance gave Longmire the confidence to hand him another massive task in Friday night's clash with Collingwood, and he trumped his blanketing of Higgins.
Starting alongside premiership Pie, All Australian and two-time club champion Steele Sidebottom on the wing at the first bounce, Clarke kept his highly rated opponent so quiet that Pies coach Nathan Buckley threw his man inside to try and break the tag.
It didn't work; Clarke simply went to half forward at centre bounces and slid onto Sidebottom in general play.
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The gun Magpie trotted to the quarter-time huddle without a single possession and didn't bother the statisticians until 11 minutes into the second term.
He failed to register a kick until the third quarter when he was switched to play as a permanent half forward and had lost the shadow of Clarke.
Without the star wingman's drive the visitors struggled on the outside in the first half, and while they managed to overrun the Swans late for an important win, Sidebottom finished the night with just 13 touches and 191 metres gained.
Sometimes recruits find it tough to settle into their new club, but even at this early stage it looks like Clarke has found a niche in the team.
Two strong performances are probably not enough to make him a Sydney staple under Longmire just yet, but he's earning the respect of his teammates and coaches, so it's a pretty good way to start.
Sydney's next match sees them travel to GMHBA Stadium to take on Geelong, so Mitch Duncan might find himself with an in-form minder.
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