Clarke was picked up by the Geelong Cats at the end of the second round of the draft on Tuesday afternoon with pick 24.

She will play at Geelong alongside Horsham Saints product Rene Caris, who was picked up with pick 35.

It was a great result for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels program – Rebels player Sophie Van De Heuvel was picked up by Geelong as well with pick two, while Lauren Butler was taken by Collingwood with pick 18.

Clarke said she was nervous during the draft.

“It was nerve wracking, especially because clubs had two minutes before they made each selection,” she said.

“Geelong is such a professional club and even at VFLW level, so going back there is pretty awesome. Starting with AFLW they are going to be more professional and knowing most of those VFLW girls makes it better.”

Clarke said it was also a bonus to be joining Geelong alongside the other Rebels girls.

She said the Ararat Storm played a big role in her development as a junior.

“Ararat Storm was the first local club I played for and I found I developed a lot and learned a lot from Krystal and the Storm crew,” she said.

“Winning two premierships was pretty awesome and something I had never done before. I will have a lot of friends there for a long time.”

Former Ararat Storm coach Krystal Cameron said she was excited when Clarke’s name was called out.

“It was a bit of an anxious wait until pick 24 but it was fantastic to see her fulfil her dream,” she said.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen somebody read the play like she does. The first time I saw her at training I looked at my dad and just thought wow, and that was just at training. She has a really good football brain, it’s quite incredible.”

Playing alongside fellow Rebels recruits at Geelong as well as having already been involved with Geelong’s VFLW team should make for a positive football environment for Clarke. She is originally from Branxholme.

“I think it will be a good comfort level for her with the Rebels but she has played a few games with Geelong already in the VFLW,” Cameron said. 

“She will also be closer to home which should be nice.”

Cameron said Clarke had put a lot of work in recent years to prepare herself for the bigger bodies and higher intensity level of football that will come with playing in the AFLW.

“The last couple of years I think she has realised it was something she needed to work on and she has done that very well with personal training,” she said.

“I think she handles pressure really well and once she gets in the groove of it I think she will be perfectly fine in the competition.”