Wearing number 23 in any sporting environment has always carried a sense of expectation, something that sits comfortably with the player that has worn the famous digits into battle for the Bombers in 2023.
Historically the likes of Chicago Bulls champion Michael Jordan, soccer legend David Beckham, Lakers superstar Koby Bryant, spin wizard Shane Warne and even former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke have led the charge.
Andrew McLeod wore number 23 when he won back-to-back Norm Smith medals in Adelaide Crows’ premiership years, while more recently, Lance Franklin and LeBron James have continued the trend.
They all have one thing in common: they are big game players — worth their weight in gold to their coach and team.
Rhys Clark’s recent prominence in the Kyabram mid-field has maintained the reputation of number 23 and is a warning to opposition GVL clubs of the role he is capable of playing in this season’s finals series.
Clark is no newcomer to the big stage, having been involved in three grand final campaigns (including a 2018 premiership) in the NEAFL and VFL competitions with Southport Sharks — amidst a COVID-19 interrupted five-year stretch in Queensland.
The Sunshine State success came immediately after three GVL premierships, in a five-year period, with Kyabram.
He is, however, a newcomer to 23.
“I’ve only ever worn it this year. I took whatever was available,’’ he said.
“I was aware of the history behind number 23, but the subject hasn’t really come up with the boys.’’
Clark wore number five in his time as a Kyabram junior, carrying that into senior ranks before having a forced change of number when he arrived in Queensland.
His Southport Sharks captain had the number on his arrival and he had to be content with number 12 for three years — before a retirement allowed him to reclaim the number five.
Clark, who will be 31 in December, lives at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast where he works as a personal trainer and has his own active wear brand — Smpl.
He played 66 games for Southport, including the 2018 NEAFL premiership victory and two losing VFL grand finals.
His return to Kyabram came after he agreed to play 10 games for the season.
The partnership has been great for Clark and Kyabram, the only hiccup coming when the Bombers lost to Echuca.
Predominantly a key defender, Clark’s shift into the mid-field has agreed with him.
“It’s been made a lot easier having such good players around me,” he said.
Clark has tried to stay out of conversations about covering for injured captain Jason Morgan.
“Robbo (Aiden Robinson) has been able to solidify that spot and Charlie Barnett has done really well in defence,” he said.
Clark made the shift to Queensland in the same year four-time GVL coach Stephen Daniels moved to Southport.
Daniels had coached Seymour to three-peat and also led Tatura to a premiership.
The pair helped Southport go from ninth in 2017 to be the competition premier.
The premiership win came after Clark had won three senior titles and a 2009 Under-18 premiership in the GVL.
“I’m pretty fortunate to have played in a few good teams in my time,” he said.
Returning on a more regular basis to Kyabram has allowed Clark to spend more time with family, who still live in the area.
His parents Kyra and Peter still live in Kyabram, while sisters Shani and Lana are in Echuca.
Clark has played only nine games this season, the last three weeks being the only time this year that he has strung three successive appearances together with the Bombers.
They have been his most productive, influencing a succession of wins against Tatura, Mooroopna and Euroa after the disappointment of a second loss for the season to premiership favourite Echuca in round 13.
That game was Clark’s only single-figure disposal game for the season.
He started with the Bombers in round two, returning to the club that kick started his career in the hope of repeating the extraordinary results that saw the Bombers lose just one game in four seasons.
In that return match he kicked two goals from 16 disposals and set an early tone with six clearances and 107 ranking points.
It was a reminder of what Clark brings to the table after he was a part of back-to-back grand final wins with the Bombers in 2016-17 — having graduated from Kyabram’s under-age ranks in 2011 and played in a 2013 premiership alongside current coach Paul Newman and a handful of his current teammates.
Bombers fans didn’t see the strongly-built triple premiership player again until round six and seven, both vital games for Kyabram as they disposed of 2022 grand finalist Euroa and highly-touted Seymour in successive weeks.
Another week on the sidelines was followed by a season-high 25 disposal/10 mark game that also registered a team high 144 ranking points in the 66-point win against Shepparton Swans.
Back-to-back games seem to agree with Clark as his last three weeks would suggest, averaging seven inside 50s and clearances, alongside five tackles and 19 disposals.
“I am getting into a bit of a rhythm and am feeling really good at the moment,’’ he said.
“I think my numbers are more reflective of the team gelling together.’’
Clark was looking forward to another finals series in the red and black explaining he had been keeping his touch by training with the Palm Beach-Currumbin team during the week.
He may even be able to channel the likes of Jordan, Warne and Beckham in order to produce something special by the end of the finals series.