THIS weekend\u2019s home game at Linton Rec Reserve between Carngham Linton and Ballan has some extra meaning, beyond the Saints\u2019 search for their first victory of the season.<\/p>\n
Stalwart Tim Clarke is set to run on for his 300th seniors appearance for the home side, however, in true clubman style, he\u2019s trying not think about what it means for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty big individual honour, I suppose,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not one for the individual honours, so I\u2019ll be trying to tell them it\u2019s more about the team effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going in pretty confident, but the boys will probably step up. Hopefully, it\u2019s enough to get over the line and have a win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarke started in the Carngham Linton juniors many years ago and since then has risen through the ranks.<\/p>\n
Over his journey he\u2019s been captain, club best and fairest, and tasted ultimate success with the Saints as they lifted multiple senior premierships in the Lexton Plains League.<\/p>\n
A solid full back, it wasn\u2019t always that way for Clarke.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the early years of the seniors I was back flank, and might have had a bit of a stint up on the wing when I was a bit fitter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the years have gone on, I\u2019ve probably made it down to the backline and made my spot there, and that\u2019s where I\u2019ve played a majority of my footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve probably got pretty much everything you could with the club, apart from goal kicking. I\u2019ve never played full forward!\u201d<\/p>\n
While there\u2019s no denying Carngham Linton have gone through a rough patch of late, and since they joined the Central Highlands Football League, Clarke said while winning is nice, there are other important things that keep him coming back week after week, and season after season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the mateship, the friends that you make along the way and the people you get to know and have a beer with of a Thursday night after training,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a family orientated club. I love the social side of things.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had some success in the early years of my senior career and that\u2019s probably helped me keep on as long as I have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carngham Linton take on Ballan in seniors CHFL action at Linton Recreation Reserve, from 2.35pm on Saturday, 15 May.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THIS weekend\u2019s home game at Linton Rec Reserve between Carngham Linton and Ballan has some extra meaning, beyond the Saints\u2019 search for their first victory of the season. Stalwart Tim Clarke is set to run on for his 300th seniors appearance for the home side, however, in true clubman style, he\u2019s trying not think about […]<\/p>\n