Wait over as Clarkeboots 300th career goal

FOR what was only a few weeks, but must have seemed like an eternity to Madalyn Clarke, things looked like they were conspiring against the Darley sharpshooter in pursuit of her milestone 300th goal.

First there was a missed game to manage an ongoing foot injury in a 193-point victory over Carisbrook in round four.

A combined tally of three goals over the Devils’ next two games put Clarke – who started the season on 287 career goals – within four of the magical 300 mark ahead of their round seven clash with Lake Wendouree.

Then with the Devils leading the Lakers 45-6, and with Clarke with two goals on the board before half-time, the game was abandoned due to a concussion sustained by a Lake Wendouree player.

That left her with two to get as the Devils fronted up against the Lady Redbacks for the second time this season at Carisbrook last Sunday.

In a moment of jubilation for all Darley players late in the opening quarter, Clarke was mobbed by her teammates after notching her second for the game.

Putting the wait for her 300th goal in perspective, Clarke insisted the welfare of the Lakers player the week before was the only real priority.

“It took a while…I haven’t had much luck. We all just hope she is OK,” she said.

“But I was glad to get it out of the way.

“I’m not one to really boast about myself, but I’m pretty proud of 300 goals.

“I started playing in 2012…13 years ago…so I guess it’s quite an achievement.”

Following a half in her traditional role up forward, Clarke spent the third quarter in defence, before a well-earned spell on the bench in the last as the Devils ran out 130-point winners.

It extended their 2025 season winning streak to eight games, putting them two wins clear of nearest rival Redan (6-2), with a further one-game gap back to Bacchus Marsh (5-3) in third.

Clarke, whose introduction to football was with Bacchus Marsh’s youth girls team, considers herself blessed to be part of such a strong Darley side.

“We didn’t start off too good, but we’ve come a long way,” she said.

“I’m not an original – I came to Darley in 2021 and we were getting absolutely smashed every week.

“But since we’ve got Brett (Faulkhead) as coach, we’ve won back-to-back premierships. Hopefully, there’s another one in us.”

The 30-year-old revealed the clock was already ticking on her career as she continued to manage a fractured bone in her preferred left kicking foot.

“I’m retiring at the end of the season,” Clarke said.

“I have a few injuries at the moment, but I’m playing through them.

“I’ve been trying to manage the fractured bone in my foot for the last year and a half, but it’s got to a point where I can’t do much about it.

“They are trying to rest me for a few games, which they did in round four.”

After playing in her first premiership last season, Clarke – who missed the 2023 flag win while holidaying overseas – hopes to add one more as she bows out from football.

“It would be nice to go out with a bang,” she said.

Clarke is the second Darley player to reach 300 career goals this season, following in the footsteps of Kim Bessell, who kicked another bag of four on the weekend.

Asked to nominate some of the best players she had played alongside and against during her career, Clarke could not go past two-time AFLW premiership player Jenna Bruton, current Darley captain Lilli Condon, Devils goalkicking ace Bessell and last season’s grand final AFL Victoria best-on-ground medallist Jaye Dalgleish. More sport from page 25.