Dylan Clarke

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{For|the film producer|Dylan Clark}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Dylan Clarke

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|09|06|df =y}}

| birth_place =

| originalteam = Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup)

| draftpick = No. 63, 2016 national draft

| position = Midfielder

| debutdate =

| debutteam =

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| height = 187 cm

| weight = 87 kg

| otheroccupation =

| currentclub = {{AFL Ess}}

| guernsey = 37

| years1 = 2018–2021

| club1 = {{AFL Ess}}

| games_goals1 = 24 (6)

| statsend = round 23, 2021

| careerhighlights = *2019 AFL Rising Star: nominee

}}

Dylan Clarke (born 6 September 1998) is a former professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the younger brother of Sydney's Ryan Clarke.{{Citation | last = Landsberger | first = Sam | date = 20 December 2016 | title = Desire and work ethic takes Dylan Clarke on to Essendon's list | periodical = Herald Sun | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/desire-and-work-ethic-takes-dylan-clarke-on-to-essendons-list/news-story/b4efdd1ee4f9b3b1d97ab7fdefb4e13a }}

He was educated at St Joseph's College, Ferntree Gully and Melbourne Grammar School.

Clarke was recruited with pick 63 in the 2016 national draft.{{Citation | last = Quayle | first = Emma | date = 25 November 2016 | title = AFL draft 2016: Bombers see a bit of Wanganeen in top pick Andy McGrath | periodical = The Age | url = https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2016-bombers-see-a-bit-of-wanganeen-in-top-pick-andy-mcgrath-20161125-gsy18v.html }} He made his senior debut against the Geelong Cats in round 9 of the 2018 AFL season.{{Citation | last = Walsh | first = Conor | date = 20 May 2018 | title = Clarke's level head | periodical = Essendon Football Club | url = http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2018-05-20/clarkes-level-head }}

He was called up for his second game in Round 11, 2019. Clarke lined up on Carlton captain and Brownlow Medal favorite Patrick Cripps, and kept him to the quietest game of his entire career, as one of the best players on the ground.

He played in Essendon's next game in Round 13 against Hawthorn, once more playing a tagging role, holding Hawthorn star Jager O'Meara to 14 disposals to three quarter time and 23 for the match, while gathering 23 possessions himself. He was again one of the best players on the ground, and was recognized with the NAB Rising Star nomination for round 13.

Clarke was delisted by the Bombers at the end of 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/686417/essendon-bombers-delist-hard-running-mid-dylan-clarke-ssp-door-left-open | title=Dons delist hard-running mid, SSP door left open | date=3 November 2021 }}