Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Clark Anthony Keating

Known as
Clark Keating

Born
19 March 1976 (age 48)

Place of birth
Surfers Paradise, QLD (4217)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 47d
Last game: 30y 167d

Height and weight
Height: 200 cm
Weight: 100 kg

Senior clubs
Brisbane

Jumper numbers
Brisbane: 27

State of origin
QLD

Family links
Aaron Keating (Brother)

Clark Keating

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
BrisbaneAFL1996-1999, 2001-2006139830.6063%4.422.882.4710
Total1996-1999, 2001-2006139830.6063%4.422.882.4710

AFL: 10,703rd player to appear, 1,503rd most games played, 1,306th most goals kickedBrisbane: 141st player to appear, 38th most games played, 34th most goals kicked

Brisbane drafted Clark Keating from local club Surfers Paradise, and after a slow start to his career he developed into a vital component of the side that would go on to dominate the AFL competition during the early part of the 21st century. Initially used either as a tall option in the forward lines or as a back-up ruckman to Matthew Clarke, Keating truly came into his own after being handed the premier rucking role in 1999.

Tall and powerfully built at 200cm and 100kg, Keating knew how to use his weight and strength, and besides being a fine knock ruckman was instrumental in getting many Brisbane moves going by means of his strong work in the packs. He suffered a setback in the 2000 season when he was sidelines with knee tendinitis problems, but he returned in 2001 to produce arguably the best season of his career, culminating a rousing four quarter display in the Lions' Grand Final win over Essendon.

After missing most of the 2002 season with injury, Keating returned in September to play a notable part in Brisbane's second successive premiership victory, achieved by means of a Grand Final defeat of Collingwood when, with 39 hit-outs, he was arguably the most influential player afield. He was similarly effective at the end of another injury-interrupted season a year later as the Lions again downed Collingwood on Grand Final day to achieve a noteworthy hat-trick of premiership triumphs. 

Keating made a fourth successive Grand Final appearance in 2004, but despite being arguably the game's outstanding ruckman could not prevent the Lions from succumbing to Port Adelaide. Two years later, Keating retired after playing 139 AFL games in 11 seasons, a tally that would have been considerably higher had he not been such a frequent victim of injury.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.