Every time a Lions player arrives at the Gabba, they are greeted at their locker by the names of former Club greats who previously wore their guernsey number in 100 or more senior matches.

Round 4 debutant Sam Docherty, for instance, laces up his boots each week in shadow of former Number 1’s Kevin Murray, Paul Roos and Richard Champion.

But unfortunately not every player’s locker is entrenched with such greatness.

Justin Clarke is one of those few whose locker door is bare.

In 127 years of combined Club history, no Fitzroy, Bears or Lions player has worn Clarke’s Number 42 guernsey for an extended period of time.

In fact, only 18 players have ever worn that particular guernsey in a senior match for the Club – with Clarke set to become the 19^th this Sunday at the Gabba.

Former Bears and Lions utility Tristan Lynch is the most ‘capped’ Number 42 with 55 senior matches to his name – 40 games clear of Fitzroy’s Terry Board who ranks second with just 15 games.

Pearce Hanley is third, having played 12 matches in the Number 42 before opting to switch to the more noteworthy Number 11 in 2011.

This means that Clarke could one day create history by becoming the first player to appear on the Number 42 locker.

Given he is still yet to play ONE senior match (let alone 100), there is obviously a long way to go until then. However, the prospect of leaving a lasting legacy at the Gabba should provide some added incentive for the Booleroo teenager as he embarks on his senior AFL journey.  

The unfashionable Number 42 actually suits Clarke, who could be described as being ‘unfashionable’ himself in terms of his football.

At 195cm, he is an athletic defender whose primary focus is to shut down the opposition.

While he has improved his attacking game markedly since arriving in Brisbane at the end of 2011, you shouldn’t be expecting Clarke to accumulate a ton of possessions – with one percenters his main key performance indicator.

When asked by a Lions fan recently whether he would be a good option for his AFL Fantasy team, Clarke quickly replied “definitely not”.  

“I don't really know that much about (AFL Fantasy), but I am guessing I wouldn't get enough points to be relied upon,” Clarke said during his live chat.

CLARKE BY THE NUMBERS

12,167th  
player to appear in VFL/AFL history

1,401st
player to represent the Club (Fitzroy and Bears included)

152nd
player to represent the merged Brisbane Lions since 1997

19th
player in the Club’s combined history to wear the #42 in a senior match

Players to have worn the #42 guernsey in a senior match for the Club